ASHA workers to hold three-day dharna in Bengaluru; demands include better pay and job security
Organised under the umbrella of various ASHA workers' unions, the protest aims to draw the attention of the Karnataka Chief Minister and Health Department to what workers call long-standing neglect of their contributions, especially in the post-pandemic era.
Among their primary demands, the ASHA workers are seeking a monthly compensation of ₹10,000, effective from April 2025. This includes both the State-provided honorarium and the Central government's incentive portion. Workers argue that despite being the frontline force in delivering rural healthcare and playing a crucial role during COVID-19, their efforts remain under-recognised and underpaid.
The unions have also urged the State government to increase the ₹1,000 honorarium currently provided to all ASHA workers, in line with hikes recently granted to other scheme-based workers in the State Budget.
Another key demand is job security. ASHA workers are strongly opposing any move to remove them under the guise of 'rationalisation,' fearing mass displacement and loss of livelihood.
Meanwhile, the government has directed the officials to take necessary steps to ensure that public health services are not disrupted. The government issued a circular on Monday instructing the officials of Health and Family Welfare department to convince the ASHA workers of the facilities provided and to persuade them to not participate in the 'illegal agitation'.
'Information about ASHA workers who were absent from duty in their district limits every day from August 12 to 14, 2025, should be submitted to the Commissionerate. Apart from medical emergency, all types of leave should be restricted of all officers and staff of the Health Department (permanent/contract). And, the details of the activities of the ASHA workers who participated in the dharna should be entered on the website,' stated the circular.
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ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers from BBMP, Bangalore urban and rural districts, will launch a three-day dharna at Freedom Park on Seshadri road, starting August 12, as part of a State-wide agitation demanding better wages and job security. Organised under the umbrella of various ASHA workers' unions, the protest aims to draw the attention of the Karnataka Chief Minister and Health Department to what workers call long-standing neglect of their contributions, especially in the post-pandemic era. Among their primary demands, the ASHA workers are seeking a monthly compensation of ₹10,000, effective from April 2025. This includes both the State-provided honorarium and the Central government's incentive portion. Workers argue that despite being the frontline force in delivering rural healthcare and playing a crucial role during COVID-19, their efforts remain under-recognised and underpaid. The unions have also urged the State government to increase the ₹1,000 honorarium currently provided to all ASHA workers, in line with hikes recently granted to other scheme-based workers in the State Budget. Another key demand is job security. ASHA workers are strongly opposing any move to remove them under the guise of 'rationalisation,' fearing mass displacement and loss of livelihood. Meanwhile, the government has directed the officials to take necessary steps to ensure that public health services are not disrupted. The government issued a circular on Monday instructing the officials of Health and Family Welfare department to convince the ASHA workers of the facilities provided and to persuade them to not participate in the 'illegal agitation'. 'Information about ASHA workers who were absent from duty in their district limits every day from August 12 to 14, 2025, should be submitted to the Commissionerate. Apart from medical emergency, all types of leave should be restricted of all officers and staff of the Health Department (permanent/contract). And, the details of the activities of the ASHA workers who participated in the dharna should be entered on the website,' stated the circular.
