Preference to SCs in appointment of 'Ashas'

Patna, Mar 20 (UNI) Bihar government today reiterated that it would give preference to Scheduled Castes women in appointment of 'Asha' workers to be trained for providing health facilities to women in rural areas.

Intervening during a reply of Health Minister Chandramohan Rai to a call attention motion of RJD's Vijendra Kumar Singh and others in the assembly, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the government, in appointment of 'Ashas' would give preference to those who had been traditionally known to have expertise in ensuring safe delivery of babies. He said safe delivery was being done by women of the Ravidas community in rural areas even now.

Mr Kumar, quoting the Centres guidelines, said women who had at least passed the eigth standard, were eligible to become 'Ashas'. He said the state government would urge the Centre to relax the minimum qualification in view of traditional knowledge and wisdom acquired by successive generations of members of the SCs.

UNI DH PL SKM1648