ASHA Workers Stage Protest in Hyderabad

Hyderabad:ASHA workers, as part of their appeal to Chalo Hyderabad, staged a protest at Indira Park on Saturday after bypassing restrictions imposed by authorities, demanding a fixed monthly salary of ₹18,000 and resolution of pending issues.

The rally started from a UPHC near DBR Mills and moved towards Indira Park; Here the police stopped them, leading to heated arguments and scuffles. It was reported that many protesters, including leaders, were injured. Thousands of people were detained and taken to police stations in the city.

Union leaders alleged that permission to Dharna Chowk was initially guaranteed but was later rejected, saying the move was undemocratic. They alleged that ASHA workers were detained at multiple locations across the state to prevent participation.

Workers said the Congress government had promised wage hikes and job security before coming to power, but no action was taken despite repeated protests, including a rally on February 23 and a 48-hour agitation on March 16-17.

Criticizing both current and past governments for negligence, the group announced statewide rasta roko protests on highways from 10 to 11 am on March 30, warning of an indefinite strike during the monsoon if demands are not met.