Six Months Without Pay: ASHA Workers in Kangan Say Frontline Heroes Are Being Forgotten

By Beigh Arif

Kangan, Ganderbal: They are called the backbone of India’s public health system. From remote villages to door-to-door surveys, Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers have played a crucial role in implementing Central Government health programmes at the grassroots level. Yet in Kangan area of Ganderbal district, these very workers say they have been waiting for their salaries for the last six months.

ASHA workers are key field-level functionaries under Central Government-supported schemes such as the National Health Mission (NHM). They work as the first point of contact between the health system and the common people, especially women and children. From immunisation drives and maternal care to emergency health awareness, ASHA workers remain on the front line in every situation.

“We are always in the field. Whether it is vaccination, surveys, or emergencies, all work is done through us. But when it comes to payments, we are ignored,” the protesting ASHA workers said during a demonstration in Kangan.

Some workers said that while funds are said to be released at the district level, the money does not reach them on time. The delay, they said, has pushed many families into financial distress, forcing them to struggle with household expenses despite serving the public every day.

Raising slogans, the workers appealed to the Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal and the Health Department to take immediate steps for the release of their pending dues. They also urged the authorities to ensure that funds meant for ASHA workers under Central Government schemes reach them without delay.

The protesters demanded a transparent and fixed payment mechanism so that frontline health workers are not left waiting for months for their rightful wages.