ASHA workers continue SIR duties amid protest over pending remuneration in Secunderabad Cantonment

Following a protest by ASHA workers serving as BLOs, only skeletal staff attended SIR duties in Secunderabad Cantonment. BLOs alleged three years of unpaid remuneration, while the ASHA union warned of a boycott if pending dues are not cleared by next Monday.

Hyderabad: A day after a protest held by the ASHA workers who have been deputed as BLOs in Secunderabad Cantonment, a skeletal staff attended duties for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls on Thursday.

According to a GHMC statement, nearly 80 per cent of the enumeration form distribution was completed in Secunderabad Cantonment. As the distribution was halted for two days due to ASHA workers’ protests, voters queued up at the SCB main office on Thursday to clarify their doubts.

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Meanwhile, several BLOs told ‘Telangana Today’ that they had been waiting for remuneration for the past three years for attending poll duties. “We needed the money to pay rent, school and college fees, and for other expenses,” said a BLO, adding they were fed up with the State government’s attitude over non-payment of dues.

Several other ASHA workers were also attending the SIR process across 15 assembly constituencies, despite not receiving their honorarium, they said.

Bhagya Lakshmi, President, Cantonment ASHA workers’ Union, said they had planned to meet either the District Medical and Health Officer or the District Election Officer, but Health Department officials asked them to wait till next Monday for payment of pending dues.

She said if the SCB does not pay them by next Monday, the union will announce a plan of action, including boycotting the ongoing SIR.