Arogya mitras go on indefinite strike

AURANGABAD: The Aurangabad district arogya mitras have launche an indefinite strike from Monday demanding salary hike and citing the huge disparity in salary compared to their counterparts in other districts.
The arogya mitras have been appointed by the state government for the Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana (RGJAY) to ensure that poor patients are admitted and get treatment under the scheme.The RGJAY aims to provide insurance cover to patients below poverty line (BPL) 972 surgeries, therapies and procedures.
Total 36 arogya mitras went on strike from Monday, resulting in disruption of services under the scheme. They have also submitted a memorandum to the district collector. "We have demanded the government to raise our salary from present Rs 5,400 per month to 16,000 as compared to the employees working under the scheme in other districts," said an arogya mitra working at the Aurangabad Government Cancer Hospital.
He said that the scheme was launched in Aurangabad in October 2013. And since then they received only Rs 100 increment. "Moreover, Rs 600 is deducted as TDS every month from the salary. Considering the rise in inflation it is a tight-rope walk for us to manage our monthly budget."
RGJAY district co-ordinator Yogesh Lokhande said the administration has taken steps to ensure that the services under the scheme were not disrupted. "We urged the patients and their relatives to call on our toll-free number 18002332200 for assistance," he said.
Altogether, 36 hospitals including two government hospitals have been empanelled with the RGJAY Society in Aurangabad district. BPL patients from across the district avail of treatment in these hospitals.
"The arogya mitras were appointed to assist patients. Counters were opened at empanelled hospital where the arogya mitras will see to it that poor patients are admitted and get treatment," Lokhande said.
The scheme provides coverage for meeting all expenses relating to hospitalization of beneficiary up to Rs 1.5 lakh per family per year in any of the empanelled hospitals subject to package rates on cashless basis through health cards or valid orange/yellow ration cards.