ASHA workers stage protest in Hassan, demand hike in remuneration

Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers of Hassan staged a protest in Hassan on Thursday with many demands, including a hike in remuneration.

Under the banner of Karnataka Rajya Samyukta Asha Karyakarteyara Sangha, the activists took out a march in the city and assembled in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office. They submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

At present, the workers are getting an honorarium of ₹5,000 from the State government and remuneration of ₹7,000 from the Union government. Many are not getting the remuneration of ₹7,000 due to technical glitches. The Congress party, which came to power in the State last year, had assured ASHA workers of a ₹3,000 hike in honorarium in its manifesto.

When the workers staged a protest in Bengaluru in February 2024 on this issue, the government assured them of fulfilling the promises. However, the demands had not been fulfilled so far even after several meetings with officers concerned. The protesters demanded the government announce the increase of honorarium in the ongoing legislature session in Belagavi.

The protesters’ other demands include additional grant for the workers in urban localities, bring down mobile-phone-based jobs, granting ₹3 lakh for those who take retirement at the age of 60, and regular health checkups of ASHA workers.

All India United Trade Union Centre leader G. Hanumesh, ASHA workers Pushpalatha, Geetha, Manjula, Shivamma, Tahira, Kumar, Meghana, Lakshmi, Naveena, Komala, Veena, and others led the protest.

Published - December 12, 2024 08:03 pm IST