Protest Against the Prime Minister's Silence on Pending Payments of ASHA Workers in Bihar

Protest by ASHA workers in Samastipur on the call of Bihar Rajya Asha Karyakarta Sangh, affiliated to AICCTU

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi was delivering an election speech in Madhubani, Bihar on April 24 (just two days after a terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir, when the entire nation was in mourning) and shedding crocodile tears, ASHA workers and facilitators in the state were expressing their anger on the streets of Bihar. ASHA workers in the state have been struggling for the past six months to receive their rightful remuneration.

Under the banner of the Bihar Rajya ASHA Karyakarta Sangh (Bihar State ASHA Workers Union, affiliated to AICCTU), strong protests were held at hundreds of Primary Health Centers (PHCs) across various districts of Bihar including Madhubani, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Siwan, Gopalganj, East Champaran, West Champaran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Kaimur, Rohtas, Bhojpur, Jehanabad, Arwal, Nalanda, Nawada, Munger, Bhagalpur, Khagaria, Supaul, Araria, Katihar, Purnia, Madhepura, Begusarai and Patna.

The protesters alleged that the central government has not released funds for their payment in Bihar, due to which ASHA workers have not been paid for their work for the past six months. According to the Bihar government, there was no special provision for ASHA workers in the Union Budget, and despite agreements with the state government, no action has been taken.

The protestors chanted slogans like:

"The Prime Minister and the Chief Minister are liars, ASHA workers’ children are starving."

ASHA workers and facilitators stated that if their payment can be pending for as long as six months, it raises serious questions about the government’s attitude towards ASHA workers. If a government official does not receive his salary for two months, it would lead to a crisis — then how is a hardworking woman, struggling daily to support her family, expected to survive without payment?

ASHA workers warned that if the central and state governments do not act immediately to resolve this long-pending demand, they will launch a large-scale movement.