The Bengal government has taken up an initiative to recruit more than 10,000 ASHA workers across the state ahead of the panchayat polls in an apparent bid to resolve to an extent the lack of job opportunities in rural areas.

“The state has 65,664 sanctioned posts for ASHA workers. Currently, the state has 55,638 ASHA (accredited social health activists) workers in place. An initiative has been taken to recruit 10,026 ASHA workers as soon as possible,” said a senior government official.

ASHA workers play a key role in grassroots healthcare services in the state.

They undertake immunisation programmes, distribute medicines and offer assistance to all patients suffering from communicable diseases as well as pregnant women.

Furthermore, they keep tabs on vast stretches of rural areas on behalf of the state health department and inform officials if there is any outbreak of a disease in a particular area.

“The ASHA workers have done commendable work during the Covid-19 pandemic. Engaging more ASHA workers now will strengthen the healthcare system of the state,” said a bureaucrat.

Sources aware of the development said that recruiting over 10,000 ASHA workers will help Trinamul in Bengal in two ways ahead of the crucial 2023 rural polls.

First, this will help the state government resolve the unemployment problem in rural areas to an extent.

“In the post-pandemic period, people in rural areas are in real trouble because of lack of employment opportunities. In this situation, if 10,000 women are engaged in jobs, it will send a (positive) message,” said an official.

Second, hiring over 10,000 ASHA workers will certainly help improve the healthcare monitoring system.

“ASHA workers work hard to make programmes like pulse polio immunisation successful. They also monitor pregnant women and patients suffering from diseases like tuberculosis. The monitoring system will definitely improve with the new recruits and rural people will get better healthcare services,” said a source.

A section of the officials said that ASHA workers get a monthly salary of Rs 4,500 in addition to some allowances. “This is apparently a meagre amount for many, but in rural areas even today people can improve their lifestyle with Rs 4,500 a month,” said a source.

Sources in the health department said that out of 10,026 new recruitments, the process for recruiting 6,999 ASHA workers has already started.

“But no such initiative has started for the rest 3,027 workers. The districts have already been given instruction to initiate steps for the vacant positions. In places where the interviews have already been taken, successful candidates should be given appointment letters. In places where the process is yet to start, it should start immediately, without delay,” said a bureaucrat.