ASHA workers 60,000, Maharashtra to buy 2,070 smart phones

NAGPUR: State health department has decided to give smart phones to Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers in Maharashtra. However, the government has given administrative approval to buy only 2,070 smart phones against the total strength of ASHA workers (community health workers) which is more than 60,000 in the state.
According to government resolution, 2,070 smart phones (each costing approximately Rs12,000) will be procured and distributed to ASHA workers.Health department is, however, yet to decide the criteria, parameters on which these cell phones will be distributed. State programme officer for ASHA, Anil Naxine, said the government is yet to finalize distribution parameters.
“The proposal to buy smart phones for ASHA workers was sent in January through additional director of health services. We have received administrative approval for buying the phones and the distribution criteria would be decided afterwards,” said Naxine.
Smart phones for ASHA workers is not a new concept. All ASHA workers in Andhra Pradesh and more than 35,000 in Karnataka are using state-financed gadgets. Smart phones help create awareness about preventive health care, including maternal and disease-control programmes.
In Maharashtra, this is being introduced for the first time. Apart from smart phones for ASHA workers, the government has decided to buy 4,920 tablets for women health workers and 10 SUVs for senior officials. This will cost Rs8.17 crore to the government.
Dr Anup Kumar Yadav, commissioner (health services) and mission director (National Health Mission), told TOI that the present phase is the first step. “All ASHA workers in the state will get cell phones in 2019-20. However, as our department had Rs8.17 crore left from the 13th Finance Commission allocations, we have decided to use this amount to buy smart phones and tablets in the first phase,” he said. Administrative approval for ‘smart phones for all ASHA workers’ is pending as of now, he said.
“In-principle approval has been given to this project. Budgetary allocations are expected in next financial year. Till then, only 2,070 smart phones will be distributed,” he added.