ASHAs Begin Indefinite Protest in Kalaburagi Over Pending Pay Hike Promise

Quick Summary:

• Hundreds of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in Kalaburagi district started an indefinite sit-in protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office,demanding their monthly honorarium be increased to ₹10,000,as promised by the Karnataka government.
• Protesters marched from the District Health office to Aiwan-e-Shahi Guest House Road before staging their presentation at the office.
• Food, water, and temporary shelters have been arranged for activists who braved rainfall under makeshift tents to continue protesting.
• Key demands:

– Immediate implementation of ₹10,000 honorarium inclusive of Central government incentives.
– A ₹1,000 incentive hike aligning ASHAs with other workers such as anganwadi staff.- Opposition to population-based coverage expansion which may reduce ASHA numbers.- Introduction of a ₹5 lakh retirement grant and urban bonus honorarium similar to West bengal’s model.
– implementation of Center’s announced incentive hike from June-july 2025 in Karnataka instantly

• Union leaders criticized low wages compared to other workers like prison laborers and highlighted lack of paid leave or job security among ASHAs.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The ongoing protest by ASHA workers underscores critical issues related to wage disparity and recognition for frontline health workers in India. With their integral role in delivering grassroots healthcare services-especially among marginalized populations-the protesters’ demands reveal deeper systemic challenges within public health infrastructure.The proposed pay increase aligns with broader efforts seen elsewhere across states; however, its continued delay amplifies discontent among essential service providers.While comparisons with wage scales for prison inmates highlight inequalities starkly,policymakers must weigh fiscal priorities against the moral imperative of fair compensation.

From a governance perspective, unresolved grievances could destabilize public health initiatives reliant on ASHA participation-perhaps affecting maternal and child healthcare outcomes nationwide. the union’s organized approach suggests sustained agitation until demands are met-a situation that necessitates prompt dialog between state authorities and worker representatives to avert disruptions further compounding healthcare delivery challenges already strained post-pandemic.

Read more: Link