'Got Monetary Incentive for Pandemic Duties'

Q: Do you still have duties around tracking and tracing of migrants or are you back to your regular duties as a frontline health worker? How has your role changed after the lockdown?

ASHA: Survey work and tracking of people who are coming from outside is still continuing. Along with all this, routine work like vaccination, family planning has also started.

I have to look at all these tasks simultaneously, and I am left with no time for family.

Q: Have you got monetary incentive for COVID-19 duty, and are you still getting it?

ASHA: I got Rs. 1,000 per month. I will probably get it till July.

Q: Can you think of an instance which has stayed with you or something that you are proud of?

ASHA: I am doing my work with honesty. No one who has come from outside in my village is suspected of the virus. I am relieved and also proud of this.

Q: Are regular health activities - immunisation, health checkups etc back to normal? Is the fear amongst people less now?

ASHA: Yes, work is getting back to normal. People are more aware now but at the same time the fear is also less, which often leads to carelessness.

This interview was conducted with an ASHA worker in Churu, Rajasthan in Hindi on 17 July 2020, and has been translated.

Source: American India Foundation