Bengaluru: Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) launched a massive protest rally in Bengaluru on Friday, January 3 as part of an indefinite strike. The community health workers are reportedly protesting for a fixed monthly honorarium of Rs 12,000. Since their incentives have also been due for over fifteen months, the immediate disbursal of pending payments and delinking of the Centre’s online payment system from ASHA soft are also featured in the activists’ list of demands.

An estimated 30,000 workers from all over the state participated in the protest march that commenced at the City Railway Station and ended in Freedom Park.

Speaking to The Hindu, Karnataka State Samyukta ASHA Workers’ Association Secretary D Nagalakshmi informed that the workers met with state health minister B Sreeramulu recently and were dissatisfied with the Government’s response to their demands.

She said, “This was our fourth meeting with the Minister and all that we have been getting are false promises. We will stage a two-day and night strike in Bengaluru and continue the strike indefinitely in our districts till our demands are met.”

Meanwhile, traffic in and around Majestic circle was hit following the huge rally witnessed in the city.