Will increase wages of ASHA workers; Kerala has not yet provided details of amount utilised, says Union Minister JP Nadda

NEW DELHI: Union Minister JP Nadda announced in the Rajya Sabha that the union government will increase the wages of ASHA workers. However, he clarified that Kerala has not yet provided the details of the amount utilised for the wages of ASHA workers.

Nadda made this statement in response to a question raised by CPI member Santosh Kumar, who had asked whether the central government would increase the wages of ASHA workers.

Nadda commended the hard work of ASHA workers and mentioned that a meeting of the National Health Mission (NHM) that took place recently decided to raise the wages of ASHA workers.

"A recent meeting of the National Health Mission (NHM) decided to raise their wages. There have been no discrepancies in Kerala’s share of funds, and all dues have been paid. However, Kerala has not yet provided details on the money spent," he said.

The other day, Congress leader K.C. Venugopal had requested that the central and state governments should hold discussions to decide on providing a uniform honorarium of Rs. 21,000 per month and pension allowances for ASHA workers. BJP member Rekha Sharma also supported the idea of higher wages for ASHA workers.