Tension arose in Warangal when the police stopped ASHA workers from protesting at the Hanumakonda Collectorate. The ASHA workers, led by CITU, have been protesting for 11 days, asking for higher salaries and job security.
The police used barricades and barbed wire fences to prevent the ASHA workers from entering the Collectorate. There was a scuffle between the protestors and the police when CITU district secretary Ragula Ramesh and vice-president Botla Chakrapani tried to enter. The police arrested them and the workers shouted slogans against Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for ignoring their demands.
Around 400 ASHA workers demanded the release of the CITU leaders and protested outside the Subedari police station. Botla Chakrapani stated that 10 ASHA workers were injured due to police force. He criticized KCR for not fulfilling his promise of a monthly salary of Rs 18,000 for ASHA workers in nearly 10 years.
Chakrapani accused the government of exploiting ASHA workers without any additional payment. He also claimed that the government was using the police to suppress their voices. He demanded higher salaries, as well as PF, ESI, and Rs 5 lakh insurance facilities for ASHA workers.
Several Telangana ASHA workers union leaders were present at the protest, including Karunalatha, Rajitha, Ch Srivani, K Kalpana, Padma Sunitha, Suryakala, Shobha, Subhashini, Yellakka Rani, and S Rama.
