ASHA workers protest at Indira Park: Harish Rao slams Revanth for broken promises

Hundreds of ASHA workers protested at Indira Park on Monday demanding fixed salaries promised in the Congress manifesto. BRS leader T Harish Rao accused CM Revanth Reddy of betraying workers, prioritising contracts over welfare, and warned of consequences in upcoming local body elections

Hyderabad: In a show of dissent, hundreds of ASHA workers staged a protest demanding fixed salaries and the fulfillment of promises made by the Congress government in its election manifesto at Indira Park on Monday.

Addressing the protesters, former Health Minister and BRS MLA T Harish Rao held the government’s failures responsible for the plight of the ASHA workers, who have been crucial in delivering healthcare services in rural Telangana.

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Launching a scathing attack on Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for betraying the ASHA workers, Harish Rao recalled that ASHA workers were assured by the Congress party, as part of its pre-election promises, to provide fixed salaries.

“Revanth Reddy promised fixed salaries for ASHA workers in the Congress manifesto. You are not asking for charity; you are demanding what was rightfully promised. This is not a new demand; it’s a matter of integrity,” Rao declared.

He condemned the government’s use of force against protesting ASHA workers, citing an incident at Koti’s Directorate of Medical Education where police were deployed to suppress demonstrators. Rao questioned the State’s financial priorities, alleging that while the government claims a lack of funds for ASHA workers’ salaries, it has allocated massive sums for contracts and projects.

“The Congress government has called tenders worth Rs 5,000 crore—Rs 10,000 crore in irrigation, Rs 10,000 crore in HMDA, Rs 6,000 crore in GHMC and Rs 4,000 crore for STPs in HMWSSB. They plan to spend Rs 6,000 crore to bring Godavari water from Mallanna Sagar to Hyderabad through the Kaleshwaram project, yet they claim there’s no money for ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers or midday meal staff,” he charged.

The former Minister accused Revanth Reddy of prioritising commissions and contracts over the welfare of Telangana’s poor.

“You promised to generate and distribute wealth, but all you’ve done is amass wealth for your family and cronies,” Rao alleged, pointing to projects like a six-lane road to a proposed ‘Future City’ where, he claimed, no city exists, only lands owned by Reddy’s associates.

He further criticised the government for failing to provide basic healthcare supplies like Telma tablets for blood pressure, which ASHA workers once ensured reached rural communities under the BRS regime.

Rao highlighted the BRS government’s track record, noting that ASHA workers’ salaries were raised from Rs 2,200 to Rs 10,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic, with payments made by the last day of each month.

“Former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao respected ASHA workers for risking their lives to save others during the pandemic. Revanth Reddy’s government, despite having two women ministers, looks down on ASHA and Anganwadi workers,” he said, urging Ministers Konda Surekha and Seethakka to address the issue.

The BRS leader warned that if the government fails to resolve ASHA workers’ demands before local body elections, they would face consequences.

“Call ASHA workers, talk to them, and fulfill their demands. If not, they will show you their strength in the elections,” he asserted, also vowing that BRS would stall the Assembly if necessary to fight for ASHA workers’ rights and ensure government welfare schemes reach them.

Rao also pointed to the government’s failure to release funds for sanitation, village panchayats or health initiatives, leading to issues like uncollected garbage, lack of bleaching powder and rising viral fevers in rural areas.

“There’s no diesel for tractors, no needles or medicines in hospitals. Revanth Reddy has failed the people,” he said.