'Carrying Out Both COVID-19 and Pre-Pandemic Tasks'

Q: Have you got masks, sanitisers and gloves?

ASHA worker: We are making use of the ones we received previously. No, fresh ones have not been issued.

Q: Have you been provided training on COVID-19? 

ASHA worker: Yes, we were called for a one-day training on symptoms and prevention, among other things.  

Q: Are you able to do any of your routine work that was not related to Coronavirus these days (considering cases in Himachal aren’t too many)?

ASHA worker: Yes, along with the COVID-19 work we are also performing our regular tasks like vaccination or consultation for pregnant and lactating women (over phone now). The problem arises when people who are coming from outside start hiding their information, and it becomes difficult to track them because this is a huge area.

When we fail to track these people and we get their information after a few days, we get scolded by the Department.

Q: Are people getting the promised ration? Are they satisfied with the services provided by the government?

ASHA worker: Yes. The PDS shopkeeper is going to the village and distributing ration. People are satisfied because they don’t have to go to the shop anymore to collect ration. 

Q: What is the government doing for cases that do not have a ration card? 

ASHA worker: I have not seen provisions for people, that is those who do not have ration cards. Communities are contributing ration for these people.

The interview was conducted with an ASHA worker in Solan, Himachal Pradesh in Hindi on 16 May 2020, and has been translated.