Allowance Hike Demand: ASHA Workers Protest in Kolkata

A large number of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) held a protest outside Swasthya Bhavan, the West Bengal Health Department headquarters in Salt Lake, Kolkata, on Wednesday (January 7, 2026), pressing for higher pay and improved social security benefits.

Wearing their official pink and purple uniforms, the workers gathered in Salt Lake Sector V in the morning and later marched towards Swasthya Bhavan. The protest follows a work boycott that has continued for more than 15 days, during which the workers claim their repeated appeals to the Health Department went unanswered.

The ASHA workers are demanding a significant revision in their monthly honorarium, seeking an increase from the existing ₹5,250 to ₹15,000. Among their other demands are maternity leave, life insurance coverage, compensation of ₹5 lakh in case of death while on duty, reimbursement of mobile phone expenses used for digital health work, and payment of pending allowances. They have also sought recognition as permanent government employees instead of being treated as volunteers.

During the protest, demonstrators raised slogans, blocked roads, and attempted to push past police barricades to enter Swasthya Bhavan. Police personnel, however, shut the main gate and stopped the crowd from moving inside. The protesters then sat outside the premises, insisting that a delegation be allowed to meet senior Health Department officials to discuss their demands.

An ASHA worker said the current pay structure is insufficient to support their families despite the demanding nature of their work. She pointed out that ASHA workers often respond to medical emergencies late at night and play a key role in maternal and child healthcare, yet do not receive maternity leave themselves.

ASHA workers have been on strike for over two weeks as part of their agitation. They claim to have submitted several memorandums to the authorities but say no concrete steps have been taken so far. ASHA workers form the backbone of grassroots healthcare services, especially in rural and semi-urban areas. Their duties include spreading awareness about nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, assisting women during pregnancy, counselling on immunisation and family planning, and caring for young children.

Government data shows that West Bengal had more than 70,000 ASHA workers as of September 2024.

The issue of low remuneration for ASHA workers has also been raised in Parliament. In December 2025, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi highlighted the challenges faced by ASHA and Anganwadi workers, urging the Centre to ensure timely payments and better financial support for these frontline workers. The protesting ASHA workers have said the movement will continue until the State Government addresses their demands.