Why are ASHA workers protesting in Kerala? Pg8

Ongoing for over two months, ASHA workers in Kerala (26,125-strong) are protesting for better remuneration and retirement benefits.

• Despite media and parliamentary attention, the demands remain unmet.

Kerala ASHAs receive:

• ₹7,000 monthly honorarium (paid by state)

• ₹3,000 fixed incentive (split 60:40 by Centre and State)

• Some tribal-area ASHAs get additional incentives.

• Incentives are performance-linked, often reducing take-home amounts to below ₹250/day.

Raise honorarium to ₹21,000/month (equal to minimum wage @ ₹700/day).

• Provide a lump sum of ₹5 lakh as social security for retirement.

• Remove honorarium-linked conditions and de-link volunteer tag.

Recognition as regular government employees with fixed salary and social benefits.

• Revise the National Health Mission (NHM) structure to include ASHAs as core staff.

Claims Kerala pays highest ASHA honorarium nationally.

• Blames Centre for lack of flexibility in NHM design and withheld funds (₹636 crore).

• Suggested forming a committee for revising scheme parameters.

Union Health Minister declared in Parliament that ASHA incentives will be revised, but no timeline fixed.

ASHAs are the backbone of India’s rural health outreach but continue to work without job security or fair wages.

• Centre-State coordination needed to ensure uniform and adequate pay structure.

• Consider redesigning NHM to make ASHAs part of regularised health workforce, along with pension and insurance schemes.

• Political will is key to recognising invisible women’s labour in essential services.

Mains Mock Question:

“Grassroots health workers like ASHAs are indispensable to India’s public health system, yet they remain excluded from fair pay and social security. Critically examine the causes and suggest measures to address this gap.”