Bengaluru: The Karnataka State United ASHA Workers’ Union (AIUTUC) has urged the state government to provide a ₹5,000 honorarium to ASHA workers deployed as assistants to Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)-2026 of electoral rolls.
A delegation led by union president K. Somashekar Yadagiri and secretary D. Nagalakshmi met Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Anbu Kumar on Monday and submitted a memorandum outlining their demands. According to the union, the Chief Electoral Officer assured them that the request would be examined.
In a joint statement, the union leaders said ASHA workers have been assigned SIR-related duties by Deputy Commissioners, Tahsildars and Health Department officials in several districts and taluks. However, they pointed out that the official orders do not provide for any honorarium or allowance for the additional responsibility.
The union has demanded a ₹5,000 honorarium for every ASHA worker engaged in the voter list revision exercise. It has also sought adequate time and suitable arrangements to ensure that regular public health services are not disrupted while ASHA workers undertake the door-to-door SIR survey from June 30 to July 29.
The association noted that ASHA workers are already responsible for a range of essential healthcare services, including maternal and child healthcare, immunisation programmes, and community health outreach. It said assigning additional election-related duties without proper compensation and administrative support could adversely affect healthcare delivery and urged the government to address the issue at the earliest.
