Top News

ASHA – Hundreds of Accredited Social Health Activist workers gathered in Kolkata on Friday to register their opposition to the West Bengal government’s decision to raise their honorarium by Rs 1,000, a move they say falls far short of addressing their long-standing financial concerns. The demonstration followed the announcement made in the state’s interim budget, which revised the monthly payout for ASHA workers to Rs 6,250.

Demonstration Outside Health Department Headquarters

The protest took place outside Swasthya Bhavan in Salt Lake, which houses the state health department. ASHA workers assembled for a sit-in, calling for a fixed monthly honorarium of at least Rs 15,000. Many participants said the revised amount does not reflect the workload and responsibilities they shoulder as frontline community health workers.

Police from the Bidhannagar commissionerate erected barricades and deployed additional personnel on roads leading to the health department headquarters to prevent any disruption. Officials said the arrangements were made to maintain public order as the gathering grew in size.

Workers Cite Financial Strain and Workload

Several ASHA workers attending the protest expressed frustration over what they described as inadequate compensation. One volunteer said the incremental increase offered little relief, given that the existing honorarium barely covers basic household expenses. According to the protesters, their duties extend far beyond limited health outreach and often involve long hours without guaranteed monthly income.

The workers reiterated their demand for a fixed salary structure, arguing that reliance on performance-based incentives creates uncertainty and financial instability. They also stressed that they should not be assigned tasks unrelated to maternal and child healthcare, which they say adds to their burden without additional pay.

Talks with Health Officials Planned

Representatives of the protesting group said a 17-member delegation was scheduled to meet the state health secretary later in the day. The delegation plans to formally present their demands and seek clarity on whether the government is open to revisiting the honorarium structure.

Union members said similar assurances had been sought in the past, but concrete outcomes remained limited. They added that continued dialogue was necessary to ensure that the concerns of ASHA workers are acknowledged at the policy level.

Series of Protests in Recent Months

Friday’s demonstration was not an isolated incident. Over the past several months, ASHA workers have organized multiple protests across Kolkata. In January, they staged sit-ins at Swasthya Bhavan on two occasions, pressing for meetings with senior health officials. Last month, tensions escalated when volunteers blocked major roads in Esplanade and Salt Lake after police stopped their planned march to the health department headquarters.

The recurring protests highlight ongoing dissatisfaction among community health workers, many of whom have been seeking a fixed monthly salary for years.

Government Announces Additional Benefits

Alongside the honorarium hike, the state government announced several welfare measures for ASHA workers. These include a one-time compensation of Rs 5 lakh in the event of death while on duty and the provision of maternity leave. Officials said the measures were intended to strengthen social security for the workforce.

However, protestors said these benefits do not address their primary concern of low and inconsistent monthly earnings. They maintained that without a substantial revision in honorarium, financial stress would continue to affect thousands of workers across the state.

As discussions with health authorities continue, ASHA workers have indicated that further steps will depend on the response from the government in the coming days.