Nitish Kumar Triples ASHA, Mamta Stipend Ahead of Elections

Patna, Bihar:

In a major move ahead of the state’s upcoming assembly elections, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday announced a substantial hike in incentives for ASHA and Mamta health workers, emphasising their pivotal role in delivering healthcare across rural areas.

Under the revised model, ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers will now receive ₹3,000 per month, up from the earlier ₹1,000. Meanwhile, Mamta workers, who assist in maternal and newborn care at government healthcare facilities will now be paid ₹600 per delivery, double the previous amount of ₹300.

The announcement was made via the Chief Minister’s post on X, in which he stated: “Since the formation of the government in November 2005, we have worked extensively to improve health services. ASHA and Mamta workers have played a significant role in enhancing health services in rural areas.” He added that the revised incentives “will boost their morale and strengthen health services in rural areas”.

ASHA workers operate at the base of the National Rural Health Mission pyramid, mobilising communities, facilitating primary care, and enabling access to entitlements. Mamta workers are contractual staff deployed in maternity wards, providing essential support to mothers and infants.

Effective as of 30 July 2025, the incentive hike is seen as a timely acknowledgement of the contributions made by these frontline workers, particularly in remote and underserved regions. According to government data, Bihar currently employs over 90,000 ASHA workers and approximately 7,500 Mamta workers across its rural healthcare infrastructure.

This announcement is part of a broader series of welfare focused measures rolled out by the JD(U) led state administration ahead of the polls. In recent weeks, the government has introduced free electricity for domestic consumers up to 125 units per month, significantly increased pensions for journalists and senior citizens, and expanded rural infrastructure spending.

Political analysts view the enhanced incentives as both recognition of long standing demands from ASHA and Mamta workers and a strategic initiative to shore up support among grassroots healthcare personnel during election season. The workers themselves have been vocal in demanding better pay, recognition, and improved working conditions for some time.

With assembly elections slated for October-November 2025, the Bihar government continues to add policy driven welfare announcements aimed at solidifying public goodwill. The incentive boost for rural health workers is expected to have an immediate impact on recruitment, retention, and motivation levels in the state’s primary healthcare setup.

Overall, the decision to raise stipends reflects the administration’s renewed focus on rural health systems and service delivery, while also signalling the government’s intent to address electoral promises related to welfare and rural development.