ASHA’s decide to boycott socio-educational survey over ‘unfair remuneration’ and non-payment of previous dues

ASHA’s across Karnataka have announced their decision to stay away from the Social and Educational Survey (caste census) being undertaken by the State Backward Classes Commission, citing the government’s failure to ensure fair remuneration.

Members of the Karnataka Rajya Samyukta ASHA Karyakartheyara Sangha, affiliated to the All-India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), have alleged that despite Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s announcement directing them to distribute survey forms door-to-door, no official order has been issued on the honorarium.

“Reports in the media suggested that each ASHA worker would be paid ₹2,000 for tasks such as distributing forms, preparing families to answer 60 survey questions, ensuring documents are ready, correcting errors, and uploading details to a mobile application. However, ASHA workers have repeatedly been denied compensation for such additional duties. Even during earlier government surveys, including those for the State’s guarantee schemes, promised payments of ₹1,000 were never disbursed,” said D. Nagalakshmi, State Secretary of the Sangha.

Besides, pending dues for surveys conducted on behalf of other departments also remain unpaid, she said.

Pointing out that the State government had promised a monthly honorarium of ₹10,000 for ASHA workers from April 1 this year, she said even that commitment has not been implemented. “While Anganwadi and mid-day meal workers received an increase of ₹1,000 in this year’s budget, ASHA workers were left out,” she said.

K. Somashekar Yadgiri, Sangha State president said the survey work not only disrupts the regular activity-based incentive payments of ASHAs but also forces them to spend from their own pockets. “This is additional work. It is only fair that rural ASHA workers are paid ₹5,000 and urban ASHA workers, who cover more households, are paid at least ₹10,000,” he said.

Apart from stipulating the survey honorarium at ₹5,000 for rural and ₹10,000 for urban ASHA workers, the Sangha has demanded that the government immediately release the pending ₹1,000 honorarium from the guarantee scheme survey.

Besides, dues for ASHA workers in BBMP limits who conducted the comprehensive SC Survey-2025 should be cleared. “Unless the government issues a clear order on our remuneration, ASHA workers will not participate in the upcoming survey,” he added.