Bengaluru: ASHA workers across Karnataka will stage a week-long protest from October 5 to 11, demanding a minimum monthly remuneration of ₹15,000, timely payment of incentives and resolution of issues related to digital reporting systems.
K. Somashekhar Yadgiri, state president, and D. Nagalakshmi, state secretary of the Karnataka State United ASHA Workers’ Association, said the agitation aims to draw the government’s attention to the financial hardships and long-pending demands of community health workers serving in rural and urban areas.
The association said ASHA workers had received an honorarium increase of only ₹1,500 over the past nine years, despite rising living costs. It expressed dissatisfaction that workers in several other states had received substantial pay hikes, while assurances of an increase in Karnataka remained unfulfilled.
The leaders alleged that honorariums and incentives had not been paid regularly for the past year, with dues remaining pending for months in several districts. They said delayed payments and discrepancies between work performed and incentives received had added to workers’ financial difficulties.
The association has also raised concerns over the mandatory use of the ‘Samasta’ app, citing inadequate mobile facilities, server problems and technical glitches. While supporting digitisation, it said workers should not be burdened with app-based reporting without proper infrastructure. Maintaining both physical and digital records, it added, takes time away from healthcare services.
The association has demanded a minimum monthly remuneration of ₹15,000, combining the state honorarium and central government incentives, immediate clearance of pending dues and timely monthly payments. It has also sought mobile facilities and a resolution to technical issues.
Peaceful protests will be held at district and taluk headquarters. The leaders warned that the agitation would be intensified if the government failed to address their demands.
