A big gift to Asha workers, they will get additional monthly allowance of Rs 7000; Gram Panchayat of this state made the announcement:

Amid the 46-day-long protest by ASHA workers in Kerala demanding a hike in their honorarium, a BJP-ruled local body in Kottayam district on Monday announced an additional monthly allowance of Rs 7,000 to ASHA workers. Mutholi Gram Panchayat has decided to provide an additional amount of Rs 7,000 to ASHA workers.

Panchayat included it in the budget

The announcement was made in the panchayat's annual budget for 2025-26, which was passed on Monday. The protest of ASHA workers outside the secretariat in the state capital has recently intensified with the start of an indefinite mass hunger strike. The decision to start the hunger strike was taken after talks with the state government failed last week. "At present, we have allocated Rs 12 lakh in the budget exclusively for ASHA workers, which will ensure an additional amount of Rs 84,000 per worker annually," said Ranjitji Meenabhavan, president of Mutholi Gram Panchayat.

The panchayat has 13 ASHA workers, all of whom will receive an additional Rs 7,000 per month over and above their existing honorarium and incentives.

Priyanka Gandhi supported

Wayanad Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi has also reacted to the demands and protests of Asha workers. She said, "The complaints of Asha workers are very relevant and I think now the time has come that the central government should consider them and they should be put on regular salary."

What are the demands of Asha workers?

It is worth noting that the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) in Kerala are continuously protesting against the government for payment of honorarium, salary hike and other demands. Hundreds of ASHA workers have been protesting outside the Secretariat since February 10, demanding post-retirement benefits and increase in their honorarium from the current Rs 7,000 to Rs 21,000.