Kerala Budget 2026-27 Announcement on ASHA Workers Honorarium Hike and Expectations for West Bengal
ASHA Workers Honorarium: Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal brought cheer to social security workers on Thursday while presenting the State Budget for the fiscal year 2026-27. Recognizing the crucial role of grassroots workers, he announced a significant hike in the honorarium for ASHA and Anganwadi workers. This development comes at a time when similar demands are echoing across West Bengal, raising hopes for workers in the eastern state as well.
Breakdown of the Honorarium Hike
The Kerala government has decided to increase the monthly financial benefits for workers dedicated to public health and child care. The revised structure as announced by the Finance Minister is detailed below:
| Designation | Monthly Hike Amount |
|---|---|
| ASHA Workers | ₹1,000 |
| Anganwadi Workers | ₹1,000 |
| Anganwadi Helpers | ₹500 |
Special Focus on Senior Citizens and Youth
Apart from the salary hikes, the budget introduced pioneering schemes for various demographics:
- Exclusive Budget for the Elderly: With nearly 18.7% of Kerala’s population falling under the senior citizen category, the minister announced a separate budget for the elderly—a first of its kind in the country. An allocation of ₹14,500 crore has been made for social security pensions.
- “Connect to Work” Scholarship: To support educated unemployed youth aged between 18 and 30, the government launched the “Connect to Work” scheme. Under this, eligible candidates will receive a monthly stipend of ₹1,000 for up to one year. A corpus of ₹400 crore has been set aside for this purpose.
- Wayanad Rehabilitation: Addressing the recent natural calamity, the Finance Minister assured that the first phase of houses for the landslide victims in Wayanad would be handed over by the third week of February. Additionally, ₹20 crore was allocated for a memorial center in Thiruvananthapuram dedicated to former CM VS Achuthanandan.
The Scenario in West Bengal: Protests and Hope
In contrast to Kerala’s announcement, West Bengal has recently witnessed intense protests by ASHA workers demanding a minimum monthly honorarium of ₹15,000. The “Swasthya Bhavan Abhiyan” led to clashes with the police, broken barricades, and high tension in Kolkata. Despite meetings with health officials, the workers have yet to receive a formal commitment regarding a pay hike, although assurances were given to clear pending dues.
However, optimism remains alive following Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent statement. Speaking at a rally in Singur, she urged the agitating workers to wait, using the proverb “Sabure mewa fole” (patience bears fruit). This has fueled speculation that the West Bengal government might mirror Kerala’s move and announce a substantial package for ASHA and Anganwadi workers in the upcoming state budget. All eyes are now on the state government’s next financial declaration.
