Lok Sabha Question No. 2323 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-13
Subject: Recognition of ASHAs as Formal Health Workers
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Ve Vaithilingam

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2323 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2026

## RECOGNITION OF ASHAS AS FORMALHEALTH WORKERS

## 2323. SHRI VE VAITHILINGAM:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to recognise Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) across the country as formal health workers entitled to minimum wages, social security and safe working conditions, if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including Puducherry;
- (b) the details of measures recommended by the Government for revision of honoraria, provision of pensions, insurance coverage, travel allowance and protective equipment along with the steps taken to ensure timely payment of incentives and fixed monthly wages;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to expand support for community health workers through integration into national health programmes, recognition under labour laws and inclusion in social security schemes; and
- (d) if so, the steps proposed to be taken by the Government to address gender and caste based inequities in rural health labour and ensure dignity, stability and fair compensation for women frontline workers ?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (d): The primary responsibility of strengthening public healthcare system, including support for ASHA lies with the respective State/UT Governments. 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 are envisaged to be community health volunteer and are entitled to task/activity based incentives. ASHAs receive a fixed incentive per month for routine and recurring activities.

Additionally, ASHAs are provided performance-based incentives for a varied set of activities under various National Health Programmes. The details of these ASHA incentives under NHM are available on the following Uniform Resources Locator (URL):

https://nhm.gov.in/New-Update-2025-26/ASHA-incentive/ASHA%20Incentives.pdf

ASHAs also receive honorarium over and above provided under NHM from their respective State Budget to supplement the amount received under NHM.

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.

ASHAs are covered under Coverage include Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema Yojana (PMJJBY) with a benefit Rs. 2.00 Lakh in case of death of the insured, coverage of Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojana (PMSBY) with a benefit of Rs.2.00 lakh for accidental death or permanent disability and Rs. 1.00 lakh for partial disability. Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan Dhan (PM-SYM) with pension benefit of Rs. 3,000/- pm after age of 60 years. Also, ASHAs along with their family members are provided with health care annual coverage of Rs 5 Lakhs under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

The Government has also approved a recognition amount of ₹20,000/- and a citation to ASHAs who leave the programme after working as ASHAs for minimum of 10 years, as an acknowledgement of their contribution.

Under National Health Programmes, financial remuneration provided to community health workers is revised from time to time in accordance with evolving programmatic needs. Such revisions take into account expansion of service delivery responsibilities, introduction of new health interventions, changes in disease burden, and the increased role of frontline workers in implementation, outreach, and community-level service delivery. These revisions are undertaken to ensure effective programme implementation while recognising the critical contribution of community health workers.

The Government has been strengthening support for community health workers, including ASHAs and ASHA facilitators, through their continued integration into major national health programmes such as the National Health Mission (NHM), Ayushman Bharat, National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme, Universal Immunisation Programme, and other public health initiatives. ASHAs are provided structured training, capacity building, and supportive supervision.

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