A Just Demand of ASHA and Anganwadi Workers
In the vast and often challenging terrain of Jammu and Kashmir, where healthcare access remains uneven and social vulnerabilities run deep, two groups of women silently carry the weight of public health and child welfare on their shoulders — Anganwadi workers and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). These frontline warriors, largely drawn from local communities, are the true pillars of the government’s health and nutrition delivery system. Yet, despite their indispensable contribution, they continue to suffer from neglect, insecurity and painfully inadequate wages.
From remote hamlets in Kupwara to the far-flung villages of Doda, from flood-prone belts of South Kashmir to snow-bound areas of Gurez, ASHA and Anganwadi workers walk miles daily, often in harsh weather, to ensure pregnant women receive antenatal care, children get vaccinated, malnutrition is detected early, and families are educated about hygiene, nutrition and disease prevention. They serve as health educators, counsellors, surveyors, vaccinators, nutrition facilitators and emergency responders — all rolled into one. Without them, the public health machinery of Jammu and Kashmir would simply collapse at the grassroots.
Yet, ironically, these workers are still treated as “volunteers” rather than full-fledged employees. Most Anganwadi and ASHA workers receive honorariums that are far below even the minimum wage standards, making it extremely difficult for them to sustain their families in today’s inflationary economy. Many of them have devoted 10, 15 or even 20 years of their lives to this service, but remain without job security, pension benefits, health insurance or regular salary increments. This is not just unjust — it is morally indefensible.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed, more than ever before, how critical these workers are. When fear and uncertainty gripped society, ASHA and Anganwadi workers continued going door to door, tracking infections, arranging testing, monitoring quarantines, distributing medicines and ensuring vaccination. They put their own lives at risk to protect the public, often without adequate protective gear or compensation. If such sacrifice does not deserve regularisation and dignified wages, what does?
Jammu and Kashmir has its own unique challenges — difficult geography, scattered populations, limited health infrastructure and a history of disruptions. In such conditions, local community-based workers become even more crucial. ASHA and Anganwadi workers are not outsiders; they understand local dialects, customs and sensitivities, allowing them to effectively communicate with families who might otherwise mistrust formal institutions. This social capital cannot be bought or replaced, yet it continues to be undervalued.
The government of Jammu and Kashmir must now move beyond token acknowledgements and symbolic praise. What is urgently needed is a comprehensive policy to enhance wages and ensure regularisation of these workers. They should be brought under a proper service structure with fixed monthly salaries, retirement benefits, medical coverage and timely payments. Their honorarium must be revised to reflect their workload, responsibilities and years of service.
Other states in India have taken steps to improve the status and pay of Anganwadi and ASHA workers. Jammu and Kashmir cannot afford to lag behind when it comes to protecting the rights of those who safeguard its mothers and children. A government that claims to prioritise healthcare and social welfare must begin by securing the welfare of those who deliver these services on the ground.
Investing in Anganwadi and ASHA workers is not a financial burden — it is a long-term investment in public health, nutrition, women empowerment and human development. When these workers are paid fairly and treated with dignity, they become more motivated, more efficient and more committed, ultimately improving outcomes for the entire society.
The demand for wage enhancement and regularisation is not a demand for charity. It is a demand for justice. It is time the government of Jammu and Kashmir recognises these women not as expendable volunteers but as permanent partners in development. Their tireless service has strengthened the very foundation of our healthcare system. Now, it is the government’s turn to stand by them.
