Sri Vijaya Puram, Sep 17: The monthly financial support available to ASHA workers in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands could see a further increase, with a proposal to raise the Union Territory Administration’s contribution from the existing ₹500 to ₹3,500 under consideration.
The development was highlighted by Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray while speaking about the welfare of ASHA workers in the Islands.
The proposal comes after the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare approved an enhancement in the National Health Mission (NHM) incentive for ASHA workers in the Islands from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 per month, with effect from April 1, 2026. The enhanced NHM incentive was approved as a special case for the Islands.
Under the existing arrangement, ASHA workers receive the NHM incentive from the Centre along with a separate contribution from the UT Administration. The Administration’s contribution currently stands at ₹500 per month. A proposal to increase this component to ₹3,500 is presently being examined by the competent authority.
If the proposal is approved, the UT-funded component would increase by ₹3,000 per month. Combined with the revised ₹5,000 NHM incentive, the monthly fixed incentive components would amount to ₹8,500, apart from any additional programme-linked incentives applicable to ASHA workers.
Ray has been pursuing the enhancement of financial support for ASHA workers, who serve as frontline links between communities and the public health system. Their work includes supporting maternal and child health services, immunisation, nutrition and health awareness, facilitating access to healthcare and assisting with implementation of various public health programmes.
The earlier enhancement of the NHM component from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 followed representations raised by Ray before the State Health Mission Governing Body and the subsequent recommendation to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Ministry’s approval was communicated in July 2026.
The Administration has also indicated that the enhanced NHM incentive, including pending amounts for the months following its effective date, is being processed for release.
The proposed increase in the UT contribution is therefore a separate component and remains subject to approval. If cleared, it would provide an additional ₹3,000 a month to the existing UT contribution for ASHA workers across the Islands.
