Hundreds of frontline health workers and beneficiaries of a key welfare scheme in Karnataka's Mysuru district are facing financial strain due to a significant delay in the disbursement of their monthly dues from the state government. Both Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and individuals enrolled under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme have not received payments for a period of three months, leading to protests and appeals for immediate action.
ASHA Workers Protest Over Unpaid Incentives
ASHA workers, who perform a crucial 36 different tasks for the health department, have not been paid their performance-based incentives for September, November, and December of 2025. These community health activists receive a fixed honorarium of only Rs 5,000 per month, making the variable incentives—which average around Rs 4,000 monthly—essential for covering daily living expenses.
Sandhya PS, the president of the ASHA Workers Federation in Mysuru district, stated that approximately 1,800 workers are impacted by this delay. She led a demonstration in front of the zilla panchayat on Thursday, pressing officials to release the pending funds without further postponement.
"The delay is causing real hardship," Sandhya explained. "Our workers are responsible for vital services like maternal care and vaccination drives, but they are operating under many constraints. One excuse given for the hold-up is errors in data entry, which is not the fault of the ASHAs. The concerned authorities must fix this issue at once."
Gruha Lakshmi Beneficiaries Also Await Funds
In a parallel situation, recipients of the state's Gruha Lakshmi scheme are also waiting for their financial assistance. Beneficiaries reported that they reliably received Rs 2,000 each month until September, but the payments for October, November, and December are now overdue.
They emphasized that most people who depend on this scheme come from economically and socially vulnerable backgrounds. For them, a regular and timely disbursement is not just helpful but critical for managing household needs. The beneficiaries have urged the government to ensure that the wait for assistance never extends beyond two months.
Authorities Hint at Imminent Resolution
There appears to be a potential light at the end of the tunnel. Representatives from the government's guarantee committee have indicated that the state administration is aware of the issue and is likely to release all the pending amounts in the coming few days.
This development will come as a major relief to both groups. For the ASHA workers, it means access to earned income that supports their invaluable work in public health. For the Gruha Lakshmi beneficiaries, it means the restoration of a crucial financial safety net. All parties are now watching closely to see if this promised resolution materializes promptly.
