Shillong: Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) across Meghalaya have announced an indefinite strike from January 8, protesting delays in the release of pending incentives and accusing the authorities of failing to resolve the issue despite repeated assurances.
The decision was taken after the state government missed a deadline set by the ASHA Workers’ Union to clear the dues by December 19, 2025.
With no payments released so far, the union said it had no option but to suspend work across the state.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, union adviser Sonny Kharjana said the strike would continue until incentives due to ASHA workers in all districts are paid.
Kharjana alleged that many workers attached to primary and community health centres have not received incentives for several months.
“In some places, ASHAs have been waiting for payments for five to ten months, while the incentives they receive are as low as Rs 150 to Rs 200,” he said.
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The National Health Mission has cited technical difficulties following the migration of payments from the ASHA App to a new digital platform as the reason for the delay.
However, Kharjana said the union has not been given a clear explanation of the nature of the problem or a timeline for resolving it.
According to the union, the state government continues to pay the honorarium component, but incentives funded by the Centre remain unpaid.
Meghalaya has more than 7,000 ASHA workers, who play a key role in delivering healthcare services at the grassroots level.
