ASHA workers sit on dharna at Sealdah station after police stops them from marching to Swasthya Bhawan

Tension flared outside Swasthya Bhawan as ASHA workers intensified their protest demanding a hike in monthly honorarium. Police had made prior arrangements with iron barricades as the programme was announced in advance. When protesters attempted to cross the barricades and move towards Swasthya Bhawan, scuffles broke out, leading to police action and multiple detentions.

Following the detentions, ASHA workers sat down on the road in front of Swasthya Bhawan, blocking traffic completely amid a heavy police presence. Several protesters were taken away in police vehicles, while others continued shouting slogans. ASHA workers said they would not retreat, asserting that they had come to demand legitimate dues and not commit any wrongdoing.

Protests were also reported at Sealdah station, where ASHA workers from Bardhaman, Bankura, Purulia and North Bengal alleged they were stopped from proceeding further. Some fell ill during the agitation. The workers claimed they had come following a call for talks with Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam but were prevented from leaving the station by police and railway authorities.

Meanwhile, ASHA workers alleged obstruction across multiple districts, including Bankura, Durgapur, Medinipur and North Bengal, accusing authorities of influencing transport and detaining leaders. While the state’s Minister of State for Health termed the agitation politically motivated, the protesters reiterated that their movement is solely for a wage hike from Rs. 5,250 to Rs. 15,000 and accused the administration of suppressing their voices.