Over 20,000 community health workers rally in Jharkhand for better pay, benefits and conditions 

More than 20,000 community health workers, Anganwadi workers and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), from across Jharkhand rallied in Ranchi on 23 September, calling on the government to improve their working conditions.  

Organized by the Jharkhand State Anganwadi Sevika-Sahayika Sanyukt Sangharsh Morcha, with support from UNI Global Union affiliate JSNGEF-IN, the protest centred on an eight-point list of demands to secure better pay, benefits and working conditions. 

Strike Threat Looms 

The union has given the government until the end of September to address their key demands – including pay raises, on-time payments, fair promotions and improved retirement benefits. If no action progress is made, workers – the vast majority women – have vowed to launch a state-wide strike starting 1 October. Union leaders stressed that the strike would have a significant impact on essential services provided by Anganwadi workers, who provide rural childcare. 

“These care workers are the backbone of their communities, and the improvements they’re asking for are fundamental to their well-being, their livelihoods and their ability to perform their jobs to the best of their abilities,” said Rajendra Acharya, Regional Secretary for UNI Asia & Pacific. “They’re not asking for favours—they’re demanding the respect and fairness they’ve earned through their essential work.” 

UNI is helping community care workers’ efforts in India. Learn how you can support campaigns like this one. 

A list of key demands (translated from Hindi): 

1. Amendment of Service Rules: Update existing policies to improve employment terms for workers. 

1. Simplified Pay Raises: Streamline the process for increasing honorariums and align wages with other state employees. 

1. Timely Payments: Ensure honorariums are paid on time, with a revolving fund to guarantee regular payments. 

1. Retirement Benefits: Provide ₹10 lakh for Anganwadi workers and ₹5 lakh for helpers upon retirement, along with 50% of their final salary as a pension. 

1. Seniority-Based Promotion: Guarantee promotion for Anganwadi workers based on seniority to the role of female supervisor. 

1. Correct Wage Discrepancies: Address wage differences for contractual workers and provide them with full government employee status, including allowances. 

1. Access to Digital Tools: Supply workers with tablets and cover their mobile data costs for work-related tasks. 

1. Adequate Nutrition Funding: Either adjust nutrition funding to match market rates or ensure direct supply of nutritional materials.