Centre increases monthly incentive of ASHAs to 3,500

Time of India

2 days ago

T'puram: Bringing partial relief to the protesting ASHAs in Kerala, the Centre increased their fixed monthly incentive from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500. The revised incentive was approved at the mission steering group meeting held on March 4, and was formally communicated in the Lok Sabha by minister of state for health and family welfare Prataprao Jadhav, in response to a question raised by Kollam MP N K Premachandran.
According to a statement from the MP's office, the minister also announced that the retirement benefit for ASHAs with a minimum of 10 years of service was raised from Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000. The eligibility norms for receiving incentives were restructured, and additional project-based performance incentives will continue. The Centre clarified that while it extends technical and financial support, the primary responsibility to improve the service conditions and remuneration of ASHAs lies with the state govts.
The minister's reply was part of a broader response to questions concerning the ongoing protest by ASHAs in Kerala, who have been camping in front of Secretariat demanding a hike in the state share of their honorarium and a retirement benefit of Rs 5 lakh. So far, the state govt has not responded positively to their demands.
The Centre informed Parliament that under the Ayushman Arogya Mandir programme, an additional Rs 1,000 is given monthly to ASHAs.
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It also highlighted provisions such as uniforms, ID cards, mobile phones, CUG SIMs, bicycles, ASHA diaries, drug kits and rest rooms being made available to workers in many parts of the country.
According to the statement, despite these central provisions, disparities in state-level incentives remain wide. Maharashtra and Sikkim provide the highest monthly payments at Rs 10,000, followed by Andhra Pradesh with Rs 7,200, and both Kerala and Puducherry at Rs 7,000.
Telangana pays Rs 6,750, Haryana Rs 6,100, Himachal Pradesh Rs 5,500 and West Bengal Rs 5,250. Karnataka offers Rs 5,000 while Rajasthan pays Rs 4,500, Madhya Pradesh Rs 4,000, Odisha Rs 3,500 and several northeastern and Union Territories pay between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,500.
The lowest honorariums are reported from Andaman and Nicobar Islands and some areas in Delhi, where workers receive as little as Rs 500.
Premachandran urged the state govt to act urgently and match the Centre's efforts. He said that while the Centre stepped up its role, it was ultimately the state's responsibility to ensure fair wages, service benefits, and dignity for frontline health workers who form the backbone of the rural public health system.