ASHAs stage protest in Patiala over low wages
Accredited social health activists (ASHAs) held a protest in Patiala on Saturday, demanding a substantial increase in their monthly honorarium. The demonstrators alleged that the Punjab government had previously promised to fix their salaries but continued to pay them only Rs 2,500 per month, which they deemed insufficient to meet basic needs.
Union leaders highlight long-standing grievances
Kamaljit Kaur, district president of the ASHA workers’ union, stated, “We are underpaid and the government has failed to meet our basic needs. We have been doing a full-time job for the past 25 years but are still deprived of basic wages.” Protesters raised slogans against Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and questioned how a family could be supported on Rs 2,500 per month.
Key demands: minimum salary, EPF, and pension
The protesters demanded a guaranteed minimum monthly salary at district collector rates, implementation of the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), and proper retirement and pension benefits. Some activists called for a minimum salary of Rs 25,000 per month and regularisation of their services, asserting that they should not be classified solely as honorary workers. Slogans against Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh were also raised during the protest.
