Karnataka govt offers to pay Rs 9500/- as advance to ASHA workers

Mangalore Today /DH

Bengaluru, January 09, 2025: Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Wednesday that the government is ready to pay Rs 9,500 as advance per month instead of the present fixed honorarium of Rs 8,000 to ASHA workers.

The minister met the ASHA workers who are staging a protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru. “Apart from honorarium, it is difficult to fix the incentive available to ASHA workers in the form of monthly salary in the current situation.

The incentives depend on the grants provided by the Central government. The Centre provides grants on the service activities of ASHA workers registered on the Reproductive and Child Health portal. How is it possible to say for sure that this will come?,” he asked the protestors.

He said that according to the information available, the ASHA workers are being paid an average of Rs. 9,500 per month, if both honorarium and incentive are factored. “Therefore, if necessary, Rs 9,500 can be given as advance,” he said.

Rao clarified that incentives will be available based on the activities of ASHA workers being entered in the RCH portal. However, ASHA workers urged the minister to fix their salary at Rs 15,000.

The minister promised to discuss with the CM regarding increasing the honorarium of ASHA workers in the upcoming state budget. “The CM is positive in this regard and a decision on this will be made in the forthcoming budget,” he added.

Demand for holidays

Responding to the demand for holidays for ASHA workers, the minister said that it was the right of ASHA workers to ask for holidays. He assured that he would hold discussions in this regard and take action.