Maharashtra

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Ashas have been the implementation of household surveys, The Virus

about 900,000 female Community Health workers are on the Front line, as part of India 's fight against Covid-19. But They are poorly paid, ill-prepared and vulnerable to attacks and social stigma, as reported by BBC Marathi Shrikant Bangale is.

"The value of life is only 30 rupees [less than $1], according to the government," says Alka Nalawade, a Community Health worker, in the Western state of Maharashtra .

"The government paid us for 1,000 rupees ($13; £10) a month for corona to work," she adds. “This is 30 rupees a day, that our lives will be in Danger . "

Ms Nalawade is among The State 's 70,000 Ashas, the Accredited Social health activists. She is a Single Mother and this Job for 10 Years in Pawarwadi village, where she lives.

Ashas are drawn from local and especially rural communities, and a crucial element in India 's primary and Community Health programs. You go door-to-door educating People about the health of the mother and child, prevention, vaccinations, and Hygiene, as well as enrolling them in health programs and the monitoring of the results.

your role in The Fight against Covid-19 is not all that Different - you can visit the houses, which was assigned to them, to educate families about the isolation, and to monitor People for symptoms of The Virus . But The Risk is much greater than anything you have faced before.

For one, you don't have the proper equipment, including masks, or disinfectants. and also doctors and nurses are unprotected.

Several of the Ashas told The Bbc that you use cotton masks that you wash on a daily basis, so that you can re-use it, you can - and is chlorine or bromine, a bottle Of Spirit that you mix with water. One of them, Karuna Shinde, says she with wearing a scarf, which you used to cover your Face .

Maharashtra has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in India

"Wherever there is lack of safety equipment, we have instructed The Local administration," says Rajendra Yadravkar, Maharashtra health Minister.

“Ashas have been putting their lives in Danger on a meagre salary. They should be protected. It is the responsibility of the government to support you. "

not to go the means, to insure the workers or their families, which prevent them often to work.

“My husband insists that I go to work. He says Other People such as nurses and doctors paid a real salary, leave this work to do," said Ms. Shinde.

Apart from The Fear of infections, families are also concerned about the safety there are reports that in various parts of the country.

And yet, Ms Nalawade says that the Compensation reflect a monthly wage of 1,000 rupees, the dangers that you and your colleagues in the Face .

she says, you would earn 10 times your salary, if you worked as a daily-wager on a farm. "As We Are to our budget to meet the expenditure with 30 rupees?", she asks. ‘What if I get infected with The Virus ? Who will look after us? I'm going to be treated, for 30 rupees?"

India is says a lack of protective equipment for health workers

you that you infect before the stigma, which is just trying to do their Job - People that will often prevent you are in your houses, and make off to worry about while answering their questions, the Asha you can.

"We work for The People , But if the same People behave With Us in this way, what should we do?" Ms Nalawade asks.

The Women also complain that They receive little recognition for their efforts.

"not even our work is mentioned," says Anjana Wankhede. “From the Prime Minister , the Prime Minister , any only doctors and the police praises. "

she says that this is unfair, because the government is based on the data, the Ashas collect daily.

“We will visit each household and offer these Numbers to the government. The government talks based on these figures, But They are not talking about the Ashas, and to collect the Numbers . "

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Source of news: bbc.com