Punjab News Daily
Chandigarh, April 23

In a significant move to support the Punjab’s essential grassroots healthcare workforce, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, operating in his capacity as the Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to resolve employee issues, on Thursday directed the Health and Family Welfare Department to officially write to the Union Government advocating for a necessary increase in the incentives provided to Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers and facilitators.

The Finance Minister emphasised that the Union Government must be urged to enhance these payments under the existing scheme, which functions on a 60:40 financial ratio between the Centre and the State.

Chairing the meetings with delegations from various employee organisations, including the ASHA Workers Facilitators Sanjha Morcha, the Powercom And Transco Theka Mulazam Union, and the Punjab Police Corona Warriors, the Finance Minister Cheema also directed the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) and the Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) to frame a concrete policy to resolve demands of the Powercom And Transco Theka Mulazam Union.

Expanding on the financial relief sought for the ASHA Workers Facilitators Sanjha Morcha, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema prioritised the immediate social security of these workers. Issuing directions, he said, “The Health and Family Welfare Department has been instructed to establish an agreement with a banking institution to ensure life insurance coverage for all ASHA workers and facilitators.”

He further said, “Any legitimate demands raised by the union that can be resolved directly at the departmental level must be addressed without delay through prompt administrative meetings and decisive action.”

Addressing the concerns of the state’s power sector workforce, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema held an in depth meeting with the Powercom and Transco Theka Mulazam Union. He sympathetically reviewed the operational difficulties they face and their demand to transition from outsourced employment to formal contractual terms.

Seeking a structural solution, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Direct instructions have been issued to Basant Garg, Chairman cum Managing Director of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited, to immediately formulate a concrete policy at the corporation level to comprehensively resolve the issues and demands of these outsourced employees.”