Thousands of ASHA workers staged a large-scale sit-in at Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, demanding an increase in their allowances, formal worker status, and comprehensive social security benefits. Their protest comes a day after junior teachers revived their agitation, signalling ongoing unrest despite the conclusion of the Assembly session.
Organised by the Odisha ASHA Workers’ Union Joint Front, the demonstration highlighted long-pending grievances related to low pay, lack of recognition, and inadequate social protection. Protesters said ASHA workers should be granted formal worker status as recommended by the National Conference on Labour & Employment, ensuring structured monthly allowances and a minimum monthly income of Rs 26,000.
Throughout the day, thousands voiced their concerns, urging the State government to address their demands without further delay.
One protesting ASHA worker said:
“We have been raising these demands for years. This is our first major protest under the new BJP-led government. If we are recognised as permanent workers, we will be entitled to salary, pension, EPF, and other benefits.”
Another protester pointed out disparities in recent pay revisions:
“The salaries and pensions of MLAs, Ministers, the Chief Minister, and the Assembly Speaker were recently increased threefold. Why should our salary and pension not be raised? We are asking for a salary of Rs 26,000 and a pension of Rs 5,000 per month.”
The protesters also accused the government of being non-committal about granting social security benefits despite ASHA workers’ essential role in community healthcare.
Their agitation follows a similar protest by the Odisha Junior Teachers’ Association, which resumed its sit-in demanding job regularisation after primary teachers ended their earlier strike. Junior teachers have launched an indefinite dharna at Lower PMG until the government issues relevant orders.
