Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday announced sops for 47,000 foot soldiers of the state's health sector, who are also opinion makers at the grassroots level.

The accredited social health activists (Ashas), popularly known as Asha karmis, will be given one-time financial assistance of Rs 10,000 each to buy bicycle, almirah, umbrella, torch light and chappal. An Asha karmi, when she leaves the job, will receive Rs 20,000 instead of the present Rs 10,000 provided she is 62-year-old or has put in 10 years of service.

Asha karmis are volunteers engaged to facilitate health care practices and maximise health service utilisation at the community level. A volunteer caters to an average population of 887 women and newborn children.

An Asha karmi usually handles nearly 41 government activities, which included immunisation, bringing pregnant mothers to the hospital for delivery, newborn care and disease control programme. These volunteers, recruited locally, were not receiving any remuneration. However, from this April, they are receiving a monthly remuneration of Rs 2,000, half of which is shared by the Centre.

The Congress and the BJP, however, said the decision had been taken keeping the elections in mind. Most of the Asha karmis are close to the ruling party and they play a key role in influencing public opinion.

State Congress president Niranjan Patnaik said: "Naveen's sop is to keep the Asha karmis in good humour in election year."

BJP legislature party leader K.V. Singh Deo said: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to launch Ayushman Bharat Yojana to provide health-related benefits for the people. Naveen's announcement is to counter the scheme and use Asha workers for poll gains."

BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra said: "The Congress and the BJP are saying this out of jealousy and frustration."

Making the announcement, Naveen said it had been done "to recognise the contribution of these health workers". A government official said the move would entail an additional burden of Rs 50 crore on the state exchequer. During 2017-18, the government had spent Rs 117.82 crore towards remuneration and incentives of these to activists.

Apart from the monthly remuneration, these workers get maternity benefit and compensation package for death and permanent disability.