Bihar State ASHA Workers' Union (Gope) held a one-day sit-in protest at all Primary Health Centers (PHCs) across Bihar on April 17. The Union has also announced a 10-day work boycott from May 1–10, 2026 if their demands are not met. ASHA workers and Facilitators gathered in large numbers at hundreds of PHCs throughout the state and demanded 1) Payment of all pending dues owed to ASHA workers and Facilitators accumulated over nearly eight months; 2) The retirement age for ASHA workers and Facilitators must be raised to 65 years; and 3) A retirement package and pension be provided to ASHAs.
ASHA workers and ASHA Facilitators serve as the backbone of the rural healthcare system and work round-the-clock for a meager remuneration, enduring adverse weather conditions and challenging circumstances. In return they are not provided with any form of social security benefits.
While they toil for a minimal wage amidst extreme financial hardship, are not even paid their remuneration in a timely manner, even in this period of soaring inflation. For nearly eight months (since August 2025) the arrears owed to them across all work categories have remained unpaid. Consequently, due to the non-payment many ASHA workers are unable to even afford their own medical treatment, and many of them have become trapped in a web of usurious debt.
The Union has been repeatedly demanding through numerous memoranda, the resolution of this pressing issue. During various rounds of talks held at different times with the Health Minister and senior departmental officials, positive assurances were indeed given but none materialized so far. However, it is with deep regret that we must state that, despite these assurances, the fundamental problems and demands remain unresolved and persist unchanged.
Shashi Yadav, Member of the state Legislative Council said that the Chairman of the Bihar Legislative Council had also issued directives with regard to immediate payment of due, and the positive assurances given by the state Health Minister - these demands have yet to be fulfilled.
