Bhiwandi ASHA Workers Protest Outside BNCMC Headquarters Over ₹1,000 Diwali Bonus, Demand ₹5,000
Bhiwandi, November 4, 2026: Discontent is brewing among ASHA workers in Bhiwandi after the municipal administration announced a Diwali ex-gratia grant of just Rs 1,000, triggering protests outside the Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation (BNCMC) headquarters. Demanding a five-fold increase to Rs 5,000, the workers staged a demonstration wearing black bands on their heads and raising…
On November 4, 2026, unrest escalated among ASHA workers in Bhiwandi following the municipal administration's announcement of a meager Diwali ex-gratia payment of Rs 1,000. A protest erupted outside the Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation (BNCMC) headquarters, as the workers demanded a substantial increase to Rs 5,000. Wearing black bands on their heads and shouting slogans against the civic administration, the protesters highlighted the stark difference in festive benefits provided to ASHA workers in various municipal corporations.
According to the demonstrators, ASHA workers in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and several other municipal corporations receive a Diwali bonus of Rs 5,000, while those in Bhiwandi are limited to Rs 1,000. The BNCMC manages 20 primary healthcare centers throughout the city, employing a workforce of 396 ASHA workers who play a crucial role in linking communities with public health facilities and executing various health initiatives.
The protesting workers had been advocating for a Rs 5,000 ex-gratia grant for the past three years, but their pleas had been consistently ignored. They expressed dissatisfaction with the civic administration's apathetic attitude, questioning why Bhiwandi's ASHA workers were being treated distinctively from their counterparts in other municipal bodies.
Describing the Rs 1,000 grant as insufficient and unjust, the workers asserted that their significant contributions to the city's healthcare system warranted a more equitable festive benefit. They maintained that the announced amount failed to acknowledge the work and responsibilities undertaken by them throughout the year.
The protesters warned that they would persist with their work-slowdown agitation until the municipal corporation accedes to their demand for the Rs 5,000 Diwali grant. This agitation has placed the BNCMC administration under pressure, as the ASHA workers await a favorable resolution to their longstanding request.
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