Demanding immediate release of pending honorarium and incentives, and implementation of a fixed monthly pay of ₹10,000, hundreds of ASHA workers from Bengaluru Urban, Rural and GBA regions staged a protest at Freedom Park on Wednesday.

The protest was organised by the Karnataka Rajya Samyukta ASHA Karyakarteyara Sangha, affiliated to AIUTUC .The protesters alleged that Central government incentives for the last three to four months and State honorarium for two months were yet to be released.

They also opposed the deactivation of nine services in the ASHA Nidhi software, claiming it would lead to a monthly loss of ₹500 to ₹1,000 per worker.

Addressing the protest, State vice-president of the association, Rama T.C. said ASHA workers across Karnataka were facing delays in payment despite carrying out extensive healthcare responsibilities.

She alleged that incentives linked to TB, TBI and non-communicable disease programmes had been pending for several years.

She also criticised the mandatory use of the ‘Samasta’ app and alleged exploitation of workers in the name of evaluation.

Urban ASHA leader, Mahalakshmi, said the workers had been forced to repeatedly agitate for basic entitlements despite years of service in the public health sector.

The protesters also demanded continuation of ASHA facilitators’ services with proper wages, retirement benefits for workers, and implementation of the ₹1,000 hike announced in the State Budget earlier this year.

The association warned of a larger agitation if the government failed to address their demands.