ASHA Workers Rally in Mumbai, Demand Minimum Wage Hike to Rs 18,000

Mumbai, 12th June 2024: In Mumbai, a large gathering of ASHA workers convened at Azad Maidan to voice their grievances against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday. The protest centered on the BMC’s failure to raise their minimum wage to Rs 18,000. Presently, ASHA workers earn Rs 12,000 and have been advocating for an increase in their wages, along with provisions for Provident Fund and pension upon retirement.

Several workers emphasized the necessity of pensions to manage household expenses. Kusum Vishnu Taware, 65, an ASHA worker since 1990, highlighted her increased need for pension post-retirement. Taware, a cardiac patient, requires financial assistance to cover medical costs, according to a report by Hindustan Times.

This protest isn’t the first of its kind. In November last year, ASHA workers staged a similar protest demanding a Rs 7,000 raise from their then-salary of Rs 8,000-9,000. However, their demands remained unmet following the previous protest.

Prakash Devi Das, president of Mahapalika Arogya Seva Karmchari Sanghatana Mumbai, underscored the persistent struggle for a salary increase. According to the HT report, protestors have been advocating for a raise for the past two years, despite marginal salary increments by the state in 2022 and 2023.

Other workers expressed their challenges on the job, mentioning their work in collecting health data from slums, responding to emergencies, and conducting surveys without proper safety measures. Despite their efforts, their grievances have been overlooked, the report stated.

A BMC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, assured that the concerns of ASHA workers would be addressed soon and urged them to exercise patience and end their protest.