Hundreds of ASHA volunteers protested on Friday, February 6, 2026, in Kolkata. They are unhappy with the West Bengal government's ₹1,000 honorarium hike announced in the interim budget. The volunteers gathered outside Swasthya Bhavan, the State health department headquarters in Salt Lake, demanding at least ₹15,000 per month. Bidhannagar Police set up barricades and deployed many officers around Swasthya Bhavan. An ASHA volunteer said, "What will only a ₹1,000 hike mean for us when we are paid a paltry sum? We demand a minimum ₹15,000 per month remuneration." Another volunteer mentioned a 17-member delegation will meet the State’s health secretary to explain their demands. Last month, ASHA volunteers blocked key roads in Kolkata’s Esplanade and Salt Lake after police stopped their march to the health department. They also protested at Swasthya Bhavan on January 8 and January 12, seeking a fixed monthly salary instead of performance-linked pay. They want no work beyond mother and child healthcare. The Mamata Banerjee government announced the ₹1,000 honorarium hike on Thursday, raising it to ₹6,250 per month. They also promised a one-time ₹5 lakh payment if an ASHA worker dies on duty and maternity leave for volunteers.