Women community health workers on warpath for minimum wages

Mumbai: Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned and, now, 4,000 women community health workers (CHWs) contracted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are on the warpath once again. After deferring their agitation--launched on March 8, coinciding with International Women’s day-- once, following a written assurance by thenBMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal of an imminent resolution to pay them minimum wages, the women feel let down and will recommence their agitation from June 1, for a second time.

Says Sharda Chandrakant Bansode (53), “I have served as a CHW for the last 25 years starting in 1997 on a wage of Rs500 per month and involved in creating awareness on family planning, conducting polio vaccination camps, maternal and child care duties. We launched our agitation on Women’s day to highlight our plight and were enthused when the then-BMC chief assured us of a resolution by March 28. After waiting inordinately long, we are now forced to recommence the deferred agitation.”

Advocate Prakash Devdas, president of the Mahapalika Arogya Karmachari Sanghatana (MAKS), told First India, “On March 11, a MAKS delegation met then Municipal Commissioner Chahal who assured them that, after the State Legislature session concluded on March 28, he would discuss the issues finally and decide positively on the demands of CHVs. A committee headed by AMC (WS) Suresh Kakani and comprising DMC (Health) Sanjay Kurhade and EHO Dr Mangala Gomare held discussions with us on May 14 and 16 on the entitlement of minimum wages for CHVs under the Minimum Wages Act of 1948 and even submitted a proposal to the civic chief, but then, suddenly, the issue was placed on the backburner and has been conveniently forgotten.”

Sanjay Kurhade refused to comment on the contents of the report submitted to the BMC Chief following the deliberations on the issue. He said, “There will be a meeting on the issue where a decision will be taken on the matter. I have no comments on the report.”

However, the women CHWs are not willing to wait any longer will set upon the path of agitation once again from June 1. Currently, the CHWs are paid Rs8,100 every month (after a TDS deduction of Rs900) and are seeking the enhancement of their wages to bring them on par with the minimum wage stipulated by the courts so they will earn between Rs13,000 and Rs15,000 per month.

Attempts to reach BMC Administrator Iqbal Singh Chahal failed to elicit a response while Dr Gomare sought details over short-messaging service (SMS), and then chose not to respond to First India’s queries on the issue.