Lok Sabha Question No. 3496 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-13
Subject: Concerns of ASHA Workers in West Bengal
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Raju Bista

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3496 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.03.2026

## CONCERNS OF ASHAWORKERS IN WEST BENGAL

## 3496. SHRI RAJU BISTA:

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

- (a) the total number of ASHA workers engaged in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and North Dinajpur of West Bengal;
- (b) the details of the total monthly remuneration received by ASHA workers in the country, State-wise;
- (c) the ratio of ASHA workers salary/share borne by the Union Government and State Governments;
- (d) whether the Government has received any proposals for increasing the remuneration of ASHA workers from the State Government of West Bengal, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government is aware that ASHA workers are on strike and protest demanding increase of their monthly honorarium and social security and if so, the steps taken by the Government to address the concerns of the ASHA workers in the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (e) : A total of 70, 694 Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers are currently deployed in West Bengal as on 30 th September, 2026 (As per National Health Mission, Management Information System Report).

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. National Health Mission is a centrally sponsored scheme, funding pattern between the Centre -State is 60:40 for all States except:

-  8 North Eastern States and 3 Himalayan States/UT (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, , UT of Jammu &Kashmir)- funding pattern is 90:10
-  UTs without Legislature - 100 % Centrally funded

ASHAs receive a fixed monthly incentive for routine and recurring activities. Additionally, they are provided performance-based incentives for a varied set of activities under various National Health Programmes. Incentives under ASHA program are revised regularly based on national priority and requests from State/UTs. Further new activities are also included periodically. The details of these ASHA incentives are available on the following Uniform Resources Locator (URL):

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

Further, States/UTs have also been given flexibility to provide additional incentives to ASHA workers.

After the launch of Ayushman Arogya Mandir, ASHAs are eligible additionally for Team Based Incentives (TBIs) based on monitored performance indicators (up to 1000 per month). ASHAs are also entitled to non-monetary incentives like - ASHA Uniform, Identity Card, CUG Sim, ASHA Diary, 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 abovementioned 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.

All the administrative and personnel matters related to health human resource including ASHA workers lies with the respective State/UT Governments. Details of protests/ strikes conducted by ASHAs are discussed in State level meetings/National Programme Co-ordination Committee meetings based on the feedback received from States/UTs.

******