Lok Sabha Question No. 3563 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Funds sanctioned for ASHA Workers
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Adv Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3563 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2025

## FUNDS SANCTIONED FOR ASHAWORKERS

3563: ADVDEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any plans to improve the service conditions of ASHA workers in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of funds sanctioned to the State of Kerala from the year 2022 till date for ASHA workers;
- (c) whether the Government has yet to clear a pending bill of an amount to the tune of Rs.100 crore from the Financial Year 2023-24 and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Union Government has received any proposal from the State Governments to increase the honorarium amount to be paid to ASHA workers; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE

## (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) : The primary responsibility of strengthening public healthcare system, including support for ASHA workers lies with the respective State/UT Governments. Under National Health Mission (NHM), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides the technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen their public healthcare system, based on the requirements posted by States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) and within the overall resource envelope.

ASHAs receive a fixed monthly incentive of Rs. 2000 per month in the country, for routine and recurring activities. Additionally, they are provided performance-based incentives for a varied set of activities under various National Health Programmes. The Government has approved additional incentives for ASHAs in September, 2022. The details of these ASHA incentives are available on the following Uniform Resources Locator (URL):

https://nhm.gov.in/New-Update-2023-24/ASHA/Orders\_and\_guidelines/ASHA-INCENTIVES.p df

After the launch of Ayushman Arogya Mandir, ASHAs are eligible additionally for Team Based Incentives (TBIs) along with ANMs based on monitored performance indicators (up to 1000 per month). ASHAs are also entitled to non-monetary incentives like - ASHA Uniform, Identity Card, Cycle, Mobile, CUG Sim, ASHA Diary, Drug Kit, ASHA rest room etc. The Government has also approved a cash award of ₹20,000/- and a citation to ASHAs who leave the programme after working as ASHAs for minimum of 10 years, as acknowledgement of their contribution.

In the year 2018, the ASHA benefit package was introduced acknowledging significant contribution and commitment of ASHAs. The package provides coverage for:

-  Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema Yojana (PMJJBY) with a benefit Rs. 2.00 Lakh in case of death of the insured (annual premium contributed by GOI).
-  Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojana (PMSBY) with a benefit of Rs.2.00 lakh for accidental death or permanent disability; Rs. 1.00 lakh for partial disability (annual premium contributed by GOI).

In addition, Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan Dhan (PM-SYM) with pension benefit of ₹3,000/pm after age of 60 years (50% contribution of premium by GOI and 50% by beneficiaries) is also available for ASHA workers. ASHAs across the States/UTs have been enrolled in all the above-mentioned Social Security Schemes as per the defined eligibility norms.

Also, a health care annual coverage of ₹5 Lakhs under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB- PMJAY) has been extended to all ASHAs workers.

- (b) & (c): Under National Health Mission (NHM), funds are released to States/UTs under flexible pools on a lump sum basis to provide greater flexibility to States to utilize the funds as per their felt need and priorities, hence no separate funds released to the States/UTs for ASHA Activities. The central release under National Health Mission (NHM) from FY-2021-22 to FY2023-24 to the State of Kerala are as under:

(Rs. in Crores)

|   Sl. No. | Financial Year   |   Central Release |
|-----------|------------------|-------------------|
|         1 | 2021-22          |            771.47 |
|         2 | 2022-23          |           1036.76 |
|         3 | 2023-24          |            189.15 |

- (d) & (e): Union Government has received proposal to increase the honorarium amount paid to ASHAworkers from the State Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.