ASHA Workers in Kerala Hail Central Incentive Hike, Continue State-Level Protest

ASHA workers in Kerala welcomed the Centre’s decision to raise their monthly incentive and retirement benefit, calling it a long-pending step. However, their ongoing protest continues, as they demand the Kerala government to raise their honorarium and ensure better retirement support at the state level.

Kerala’s protesting ASHA workers have welcomed the Centre’s decision to increase their monthly incentive, calling it a long-awaited step in the right direction. The move follows months of agitation, including two Parliament marches, where the workers raised demands for better pay and post-retirement benefits.

According to reports, the fixed monthly incentive for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) has been raised from ₹2,000 to ₹3,500. In addition, their retirement benefit has reportedly increased from ₹20,000 to ₹50,000. The proposal was reportedly approved during the 9th meeting of the Mission Steering Group.

S Mini, the state vice president of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association, who is leading the ongoing agitation outside the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, said the decision validates the efforts of ASHAs across India. She noted that the incentive amount had remained unchanged since the scheme’s inception 18 years ago, and this revision was both timely and necessary.

While expressing gratitude to the Centre, Mini emphasized that their strike would not end until the Kerala government responds to their long-standing demands. The key issues at the state level include an increase in the honorarium from ₹7,000 to ₹21,000 and a post-retirement benefit of ₹5 lakh.

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She added that state MPs had earlier promised to advocate for their cause with the union government, and the recent decision appears to be a result of those assurances. However, she maintained that state authorities must now step up and take responsibility to meet the local demands.

Over 10 lakh ASHA workers across the country are expected to benefit from the central hike, but for those in Kerala, the battle continues at the state level.