Mumbai Municipal Corporation Search For “Unmarried” Asha Sevikas
Mumbai, 27th March 2023: Over 5,500 Asha Sevikas will be appointed by the Municipal Corporation to provide primary health care facilities in Mumbai. However, there is a condition that they be married. Although this condition was not in the advertisement, it was objected that unmarried Asha Sevikas were suffering while providing information about family planning tools. Sources in the municipal corporation said that this unwritten condition was imposed against that background.
About 5,575 Asha health workers will be appointed on a contract basis under the National Civil Health Mission to provide primary health care services in Mumbai. The process for this has been started by the Municipal Health Department. Asha Sevikas will be appointed to provide primary health care facilities through home visits. They will be appointed contractually based on ‘performance-based remuneration’ and will be paid up to Rs 6,000 per month. But it is understood that information is being spread that there is a condition of being married along with education and age, and unmarried women will not be selected. The health department has recently released an advertisement for this recruitment. Asha sevaks should be between 25 to 45 years of age and should have completed formal education up to the 10th standard at least. They should have leadership qualities and communication skills with the community. Importantly, the conditions include that the aspiring ASHA volunteer candidate should have a residence as close as possible to the concerned department. Although there is no condition in the written advertisement that the woman should be married, it has been mentioned that preference will be given for the selection of married women.
Applications of interested candidates will be accepted in the A to T Division Offices of the Municipal Corporation till 31st March. The application form can be obtained from the Medical Officer (Health) in the Divisional Office. At present, there are approximately 1,088 Asha Sevikas and 2,800 Arogya Sevika in Mumbai working under the Municipal Corporation.
“Keeping in view the need of the health department, these Asha volunteers will be appointed for the population of 1000 to 1200 and approximately 250 houses in the health centre. ASHA Sevikas will be responsible for conducting surveys mainly at the settlement level by conducting house visits. They will also be responsible for awareness and measures regarding various diseases, immunization of pregnant mothers and children, family planning, and communicable and non-communicable diseases. Married women can communicate on topics related to family planning and pregnant mothers better. Divorced, abandoned, and widowed women will also be selected for this work,” said Dr Mangala Gomare, Executive Health Officer.
