**Executive Summary**
This document pertains to Starred Question No. 5 in Lok Sabha, raised by Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and due for reply on December 1, 2025. It concerns the social security benefits for ASHA workers. The Minister of Labour and Employment provides a statement clarifying the role of central and state governments and the current benefits extended to ASHA workers.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Government Authority:**
* Labour is under the Concurrent List of the Constitution of India, empowering both Central and State Governments.
* **Current Status of ASHA Workers:**
* ASHAs are community health volunteers entitled to task/activity-based incentives.
* They receive a fixed monthly incentive of ₹3500 for routine activities.
* They also receive performance-based incentives.
* **Social Security Scheme Enrollment:**
* ASHAs are enrolled in various Social Security Schemes:
* Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan Dhan (PM-SYM)
* Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema Yojana (PMJJBY)
* Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojana (PMSBY)
* ASHAs and their families have health care coverage of ₹5 Lakhs under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
* **Responsibilities for Strengthening Healthcare System:**
* The responsibility for supporting ASHA workers lies with State/UT Governments.
* The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to States/UTs.
**Impact Analysis**
**ASHA Workers**
* **Impact:** The document clarifies their status as community health volunteers with specific incentives and enrollment in social security schemes, but it does not indicate a change in their employment status.
* **Action Required:** No immediate action required, but they should be aware of their existing entitlements under various schemes.
**State/UT Governments**
* **Impact:** They retain primary responsibility for supporting ASHA workers and strengthening the public healthcare system.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement support programs for ASHA workers and submit Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
**Ministry of Health and Family Welfare**
* **Impact:** Continues to provide technical and financial support to States/UTs for the healthcare system.
* **Action Required:** Continue providing support based on the requirements posed by States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs).
Key Entities Referenced
ASHA workers: Community health volunteers who are the subject of the social security benefits discussion.
Code on Wages, 2019: The relevant legislation under which ASHA workers may be recognized as formal employees.
Ministry of Labour and Employment: The ministry responsible for answering questions about the social security benefits for ASHA workers.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY): A health insurance scheme providing coverage to ASHA workers and their families.
Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Employees' State Insurance (ESI): Social security benefits sought for ASHA workers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 5
TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS TO ASHA WORKERS
*5. SMT. PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a)whether the Government proposes to recognize ASHA workers as
formal employees under the Code on Wages, 2019, and extend to
them social security benefits such as Employees Provident Fund
(EPF), Employees’ State Insurance (ESI), and maternity leave and if
so, the details thereof;
(b)whether the Government has examined the feasibility for including
ASHA workers under unorganized sector worker category and if so,
the details thereof; and
(c)whether the Government proposes to consider setting up a
National Commission to recommend uniform pay and protections
for ASHA, Anganwadi and Mid-day Meal workers and if so, the
details thereof?
MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
* *****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK
SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.5 RAISED BY SMT. PRIYANKA
GANDHI VADRA DUE FOR REPLY ON 01.12.2025 REGARDING SOCIAL
SECURITY BENEFITS FOR ASHA WORKERS.
(a) to (c): “Labour” is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution of
India. Under the provisions of the Code, both Central and State
Governments are empowered as appropriate Government in their
respective spheres.
ASHAs are community health volunteers and are entitled
to task/activity-based incentives. ASHAs receive a fixed monthly
incentive of ₹ 3500/- per month for routine and recurring activities.
Additionally, ASHAs are provided performance-based incentives for a
varied set of activities under various National Health Programmes. In
addition, ASHAs across the States/UTs have been enrolled in various
Social Security Schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan
Dhan (PM-SYM), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema Yojana
(PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojana (PMSBY) as
per the eligibility norms. Also, ASHAs along with their family
members are provided with health care annual coverage of ₹ 5 Lakhs
under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-
PMJAY).
The primary responsibility of strengthening public
healthcare system, including support for ASHA workers lies with the
respective State/UT Governments. The Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare provides the technical and financial support to the
States/UTs to strengthen their public healthcare system, based on
the requirements posed by States/UTs in their Programme
Implementation Plans (PIPs) and within the overall resource
allocation.
*****