Udupi: Hundreds of ASHA workers, under the banner of the Udupi District Committee of the Karnataka State United ASHA Workers Association, staged a sit-in on Tuesday outside the Manipal Rajatadri District Commissioner’s Office. Their key demand — the government must implement the promised minimum monthly honorarium of ₹10,000, effective from April 2025.
Chanting slogans, the protesters urged the state to honour commitments made earlier this year. AIUTUC State Vice President K.V. Bhat reminded that during a January protest in Bengaluru, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured ASHA workers of the ₹10,000 honorarium, leading to the withdrawal of their agitation. “That promise remains unfulfilled. Even the budget ignored us. This is betrayal, and if the government fails to act, we will intensify our fight,” he warned.
District President Suhasini said ASHA workers should receive the revised pay from April, in line with budgetary increases granted to Anganwadi and hot meal workers. She opposed raising the population limit for ASHA deployment and called for re-employing retired workers, citing the West Bengal model.
Association leaders including Secretary Uma K.S., Udupi Taluk President Shambhavi Kulal, Karkala Taluk President Yashoda, and Kundapur Taluk President Bharathi Vandse joined the protest, vowing continued agitation until their demands are met.