Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on July 30 announced that the state government has decided to increase the financial incentive for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) to Rs 3,000 per month from Rs 1,000 per month and for Mamta workers, who assist in maternity wards, to Rs 600 per delivery up from Rs 300.
“Since forming the government in November 2005, we have undertaken extensive efforts to improve healthcare services. Asha and Mamta workers have played a significant role in enhancing healthcare services in rural areas. Keeping this in mind and honouring the vital contributions of ASHA and Mamta workers in strengthening healthcare services in rural areas, a decision has been made to increase their honorarium,” Nitish Kumar said in a post on X.
ASHA workers will now be provided with “an incentive amount of Rs 3,000 instead of Rs 1,000, he said.
‘Mamta’ workers will now get an incentive amount of Rs 600 per delivery, up from the existing Rs 300, the CM added.
As per the National Health Systems Resource Centre data, in July 2025, there are over 90,000 ASHA workers in Bihar. There are around 7,500 Mamta workers, who are contractual health workers in maternity wards of government hospitals appointed to take care of newborns and their mothers, according to the health department.
ASHA workers in Bihar have been protesting for a long time for better pay, recognition, and working conditions.
Reacting to CM’s announcement, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said he had initiated the process of increasing the incentive amount for ASHA and ‘Mamta’ workers during his 17-month tenure as the state health minister.
“This enhanced incentive amount will boost their morale and strengthen health services in rural areas,” he said.
The decision to increase their incentives was taken in view of the contributions of ASHA and ‘Mamta’ workers to strengthen health services in rural areas, the CM wrote on social media.
ASHA workers are at the base of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) pyramid.
In order to provide effective medical services to the rural population, the NRHM proposed the introduction of female health workers at the village level for every 1000 population, an official said.
‘Mamta’ workers are contractual health activists in maternity wards of government hospitals to take care of newborns and their mothers, he said.
ASHA workers are intended to facilitate access to health services, mobilise communities to realise health rights and access entitlements and provide basic community-level care, the official added.
Tejashwi reaction
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, in a post on X, said, “During my 17-month tenure as health minister, I had initiated the process of increasing the incentive amount for ASHA and ‘Mamta’ workers, which was in its final stage, but then the CM, as usual, took the U-turn (formed government with BJP).”
He also alleged, “This incompetent NDA government had been sitting on it (proposal to increase incentive) for two years. Finally, they had to bow down to our demand and increase the incentive amount for ASHA and Mamta workers”.
The government has not fully implemented the RJD’s demand, he claimed.
“Now, this government will have no choice but to accept our demand to increase the honorarium of Anganwadi workers/assistants and cooks as well. During our short 17-month tenure, we had increased the honorarium for Vikas Mitra, Shiksha Mitra/Tola Sevak, Talimi Markaz, and Panchayati Raj representatives,” the RJD leader said.
Tejashwi claimed that the government is “simply copying our ideas and demands out of fear”.
“This visionless government will be wiped out in the coming assembly polls. For the last 20 years, were they just peeling peanut shells? The same government, its leaders, ministers, and officials, who used to mock our announcements, are now scared of the results. They know that they will be thrown out by the electors. Will you just keep copying Tejashwi, or will you use your own brains for once?”, Yadav asked.
Several announcement ahead of election
Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections scheduled for the end of the year, CM Nitish has announced a series of social welfare initiatives aimed at expanding the safety net.
In a recent move, the Bihar government announced a hike in the pension of accredited journalists under the Bihar Patrakaar Samman Pension Scheme. The state cabinet also approved a new domicile policy that limits the existing 35% reservation for women in government jobs to only those who are permanent residents of Bihar.
In addition, the government has introduced a provision of 125 units of free electricity for domestic consumers.
Bihar government on Sunday also approved the formation of the State Sanitation Workers Commission to safeguard the rights of sanitation workers and ensure their welfare, rehabilitation, empowerment, and access to government schemes.
(With input from PTI)
