**ASHA Workers Launch Three-Day Protest in Mysuru**

Quick Summary

• Event: ASHA workers staged a three-day protest in Mysuru on Tuesday, demanding fulfillment of their pending demands.
• Key Demand: A fixed honorarium of ₹10,000 per month promised by Congress during the 2023 Assembly elections and reiterated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah remains unfulfilled.
• Background: Despite earlier assurances from the government, only a partial distribution (₹1,000 monthly allowance) has reached 12,000 out of 42,000 State-wide ASHA workers.
• Organization Involved: The protest is part of a broader State-wide agitation led by the All India United Trade union centre (AIUTUC).
• Speakers’ Statements:

– Retired professor Kalachanne Gowda commended ASHA workers for reducing maternal and infant mortality rates but criticized successive governments for inadequate support measures.
– Chandrashekar meti highlighted the government’s failure to implement promises after protests in January this year.
– Protest leaders emphasized continued agitation until demands are fulfilled.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The ASHA workers’ protests highlight larger systemic issues regarding healthcare workforce compensation and government commitment to pre-election promises. As frontline health providers who have contributed substantially to maternal and infant health outcomes in Karnataka, their demand for adequate financial recognition reflects broader concerns over labor rights within India’s informal employment sector. The delayed implementation risks eroding public trust not merely in policy execution but also in election-time assurances.Ensuring timely compliance could set crucial precedents for addressing grievances among underpaid yet essential service providers across sectors.

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