Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers Wednesday urged authorities to fulfil their long pending demands besides releasing withheld remunerations.ASHA workers led by district president Rafiqa Lolabi staged a protest in Kralgund Handwara and demanded that NRHM should be made a permanent scheme and demanded government employee status for ASHA workers, enhancement and timely monthly salary, six hours of duty, supply of special kits, social security benefits like EPF and pension, adequate protection in the field and issuance of identity cards.The protesters said that ASHA workers are a crucial component of the NRHM and are working for the betterment of health services for the benefit of the community at large.“ASHAs work tirelessly and selflessly despite all the difficulties they are confronted with. The government must acknowledge the contribution of ASHA workers to the implementation of the NRHM and the improvement of the health status of the poor, especially of mothers and infants in the countryside and concede to their justified demands,” they added.Besides Rafiqa Lolabi, Block President Parveeza Khan, Hasina Bano, Tasleema, Raja, Shakeela and Shamshada participated in the protest. (CNS)