Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed ASHA workers after they were conferred with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General’s Global Health Leaders’ Award, and said they are at the forefront of ensuring a healthy India.

India’s ten lakh all-women ASHA volunteers were honoured by the WHO on Sunday for their crucial role in providing direct access to healthcare facilities in rural areas and their indefatigable efforts to rein in the coronavirus pandemic in the country. Accredited Social Health Activists — or ASHA volunteers — are Indian government’s affiliated health-care workers who are the first point of contact in rural India. “Delighted that the entire team of ASHA workers have been conferred the @WHO Director-General’s Global Health Leaders’ Award,” Modi tweeted.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced six awards on Sunday to recognise outstanding contributions to advancing global health, demonstrated leadership and commitment to regional health issues. “ASHA — means ‘hope’ in Hindi. These health workers provide maternal care & immunization for children against vaccine-preventable diseases; community health care; treatment for hypertension & tuberculosis & core areas of health promotion for nutrition, sanitation & healthy living,” WHO said.

A host of opposition leaders hailed their contributions in the healthcare sector and said the government must ensure better wages and working conditions for them. Rahul Gandhi said the award recognises their selfless service and the government must ensure better wages to them. He said the ASHA workers are the pride of the country and they deserve a life of dignity. Also joining the chorus were Priyanka Gandhi and CPM leader Sitaram Yechury, the latter telling the the government to take immediate steps to end their ill-treatment.