With India now registering the world's third highest pandemic caseload at more than two million infections, the women in several states have gone on a two-day strike and plan a mass protest in Delhi on Sunday. Officially they are referred to as volunteers and the government gives them an allowance of $13 a month. The health workers went on strike Friday and Saturday, and are demanding a $279 monthly salary as well as a pension and anti-virus protection equipment and testing. The women, whose protests have been building over the past month, say they have faced attacks and harassment in some villages. Leading public health specialist Anant Bhan said the women play a "critical" role in India's under-funded health service.

Source: Dhaka Tribune August 08, 2020 16:52 UTC