<span style="color: #222222;">Odisha government has decided to pay a monthly pension to the kin of the deceased Anganwadi and ASHA workers who succumb to COVID-19 while discharging their duties. The pension will be given in addition to the ex-gratia of 50 lakh rupees announced by the state government earlier for the COVID warriors. The state government has issued a notification regarding the pension of the ASHA and Anganwadi workers. As per the notification Rs 7,500 per month will be given to the spouse or next of kin of deceased Anganwadi workers and Rs 5,000 per month will be provided to the next of kin of deceased ASHA workers till the date the ASHA or Anganwadi worker would have attained the age of 60 years had she survived.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Kumar Jena has asked all Collectors and Municipal Commissioners to prepare the list of such persons and communicate with the Health and Family Welfare department. Moreover, thousands of ASHA and Anganwadi workers, with a little monthly remuneration are at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19. They are playing a key role in the smooth management of more than 16,000 temporary medical camps used as a quarantine centres.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">They are also playing a major role in door-to-door screening, active surveillance, managing COVID care homes, creating awareness among the people. On the other hand, with 591 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the total number of cases have reached to 16,701 and 11,330 people have recovered in the state so far.</span><br />