Protests Erupt in Satna Over Delayed Salaries and Pressure to Issue Ayushman Cards

Satna: Hundreds of ASHA workers in Satna staged a protest on Tuesday, demanding their pending salaries and voicing concerns over administrative pressure to create Ayushman Bharat health cards. The demonstration took place at the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) office before moving in a rally to the Collectorate, where workers submitted a memorandum to SDM Rahul Siladia.

The protest stems from unpaid wages dating back to August 2025. Workers allege that the administration has delayed payments under the pretext of “software updates.” “Despite completing our work diligently, we have not been paid for the past five to six months. Other districts have received salaries up to November, so why is Satna alone facing a ‘software problem’?” questioned Ahilya Tripathi, an ASHA worker.

The ASHA workers’ union claims that a previous memorandum submitted on 24 December 2025 also went unheeded. In a partial settlement, some workers received a mere ₹6,000 each, while ASHA supervisors received nothing, leaving many struggling to support their families.

Adding to their woes, officials have pressured workers to issue Ayushman cards, despite many lacking digital literacy and access to smartphones or internet data. ASHA supervisor Reena Sharma highlighted, “Without proper training or mobile devices, how can we be expected to complete this digital work?”

The workers have issued a clear ultimatum to the administration: if full payments for December are not made promptly and monthly salaries are not ensured going forward, they will resort to an indefinite strike. SDM Rahul Siladia assured the protestors that their concerns would be addressed promptly.