Hyderabad: The Chalo Hyd ASHA workers protest turned tense on Monday as police clashed with demonstrators staging a dharna at the Koti Commissioner’s Office.
Thousands of workers gathered to demand payment of pending January salaries. In addition, they sought a fixed monthly remuneration of ₹18,000. They also urged the state government to allocate sufficient funds in the upcoming Assembly session to address long-pending service issues.
Despite reported restrictions and preventive arrests in several districts, large numbers of Chalo Hyd ASHA workers reached the protest venue. As the crowd swelled, police attempted to regulate access near the Commissioner’s Office. Soon after, a scuffle broke out between personnel and protesters.
Several workers sustained injuries during the confrontation. Protesters alleged that police dragged women participants, which led to torn clothes and some women falling unconscious. However, authorities maintained a heavy deployment to prevent escalation and disperse the gathering.
The dharna continued from 12 noon to 3 pm amid heightened tension. Traffic around Koti witnessed disruptions as police diverted vehicles from key junctions. Meanwhile, protest leaders raised slogans demanding immediate government intervention.
Union leaders warn of wider agitation after clash
Union representatives criticised the state government for failing to respond to repeated representations. They said frontline health workers had played a crucial role in public health delivery but continued to face financial uncertainty. Moreover, they accused authorities of restricting their democratic right to peaceful protest.
The leaders warned that they would intensify their agitation if the government did not resolve the salary issue. They stressed that regular and timely payments were essential to sustain grassroots health services. Furthermore, they called for structured dialogue with officials to find a lasting solution.
ASHA Union CITU State President P. Jayalakshmi, General Secretary R. Neela Devi and Treasurer P. Gangamani participated in the protest. CITU State Secretary J. Venkatesh and other union leaders also joined the dharna and addressed the gathering.
