Bengaluru: CM announces honorarium hike; ASHA workers’ 4-day protest ends

Team Udayavani, Jan 11, 2025, 9:36 AM IST

Bengaluru: ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers from across Karnataka called off their indefinite strike on Friday following Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s announcement of a fixed honorarium of Rs 10,000 per month, effective from April. The government also assured additional incentives for extra tasks performed by the workers.

The announcement came after detailed discussions between the Chief Minister, health department officials, and representatives of the ASHA Union on Friday.

Health Commissioner Sivakumar KB shared the decision at Freedom Park, where the ASHA workers had been protesting since Tuesday. The strike withdrawal marks the culmination of their eight-year-long demand for better pay and working conditions.

Key Assurances:

A guaranteed monthly honorarium of Rs 10,000 will be provided to all ASHA workers starting April. Workers will also receive additional incentives for tasks undertaken as part of their responsibilities. ASHA workers will also be entitled to three months of paid leave in the event of hospitalization due to serious illness.

The government has further committed to granting monthly leaves for the workers and assured a review of retirement benefits for future consideration.

The government also promised to increase the budget allocation for ASHA workers and involve the union in pre-budget discussions for effective planning.

ASHA workers expressed satisfaction with these developments and confirmed they would resume work on Saturday.