Dharna of 200 ASHA workers in Ujjain:Protest continues on fourth day; said – no honorarium received for several months

In Ujjain, the protest by Asha and Supervisor Employees’ Federation affiliated with the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh continued for the fourth consecutive day. The workers alleged that their honorarium has not been paid for several months, deepening their financial distress. Women participating in the protest urged the government and authorities to release all pending payments at the earliest. The demonstration, held under the banner of the Asha and Supervisor Employees’ Federation, saw participation from around 200 Asha workers from across the district, who raised slogans and registered their protest. Payments not being received on time State General Secretary Suman Patel said that Asha workers are providing 24-hour healthcare services in rural and urban areas, but their payments are not being released on time. She alleged that salaries of several workers have been pending for four to five months, and the dues for 2025 have also not been fully cleared.
She added that while some workers have received partial amounts—₹7,000, ₹8,000, or ₹10,000–₹11,000—remaining payments have been withheld, increasing resentment among workers. The organisation said it is unclear whether the responsibility lies with the government or officials. Around 2,000 workers affected in the district Suman Patel said nearly 90,000 workers are affected across the state, including around 2,000 in the district. Women from remote rural areas are travelling up to 100 kilometres to join the protest. She warned that if their demands are not met soon, Asha workers across the state will be forced to launch a major agitation in Bhopal. During the sit-in, the workers demanded immediate clearance of pending honorarium, a regular salary structure, and resolution of other long-pending issues. The organisation said the protest will continue until their demands are fulfilled.