Over 200 ASHA Workers Protest at Freedom Park Over Unpaid Incentives

More than 200 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) gathered to stage a protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Monday. The frontline health workers demonstrated to demand the immediate release of their incentives, which have reportedly been pending for the past five months.

The protest was organised under the banner of the Karnataka Rajya Samyuktha ASHA Karyakarteyara Sangha, a union affiliated with the All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC). Protesters highlighted that the five-month delay in payments has caused severe financial hardship for hundreds of ASHAs and their families.

Rama TC, the State Vice-President of the union, spoke on the issue, stating that the prolonged delay in releasing the incentives has heavily affected the livelihoods of these frontline health workers. She urged the government to clear the pending dues of the workers without any further delay.

In addition to the immediate release of the pending incentives, the protesting health workers raised several other key demands during the demonstration at Freedom Park. The workers are seeking a monthly remuneration of ₹15,000, retirement benefits amounting to ₹5 lakh, and compensation for BLO duty.

The union and the participating activists warned that they would launch statewide protests if their demands remain unmet by the authorities.