Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal urged the ASHA and employees of National Health Mission to take forward the message of government health schemes more forcefully to the grass root for heralding a positive change in the lives of the people of the state.

Sonowal made this call while taking part at the 2nd  ASHA and NHM Convention, 2019 organized by the Department of Health, Government of Assam at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati today.

The ASHA and NHM Convention organized after a gap of ten years was an endeavour to recognize and appreciate the valuable contributions made by field level functionaries of NHM in improving health care delivery system in the state.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma while speaking on the occasion said that many interventions have been brought in systematically to address the issues faced by ASHA and NHM employees during the tenure of present Government.

The Minister also announced slew of initiatives taken up by the State Government for the benefit of ASHA and NHM employees. This includes enhancement of monthly fixed incentive to ASHA from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 3000, immunization incentive from Rs. 150 to Rs. 400, enhancement of remuneration of ASHA Facilitator to Rs. 7500, paid salary to NHM employees for the period of hospitalization, Rs. 5 lakh health assurance card for NHM employees covering spouse, children and parents, enhancement of financial assistance to family members of deceased NHM employees from Rs. 5 lakh to 7 lakh, contribution of Rs. 350 from Government benefitting the employees under PM Jivon Jyoti Bima Yojana and contributory pension fund under Atal Amrit Yojana.

CM Sonowal on the occasion presented awards to 10 best performing ASHA workers and best performing districts in different categories of health care services. He also handed over cheques of Rs. 5 lakh each to family members of 5 deceased NHM employees.