Sri Vijaya Puram: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has taken steps on the issues raised by the Member of Parliament regarding enhancement of incentives for ASHA workers and operationalisation of air ambulance services in the Islands.
In a letter dated September 7, 2026, the State Health Society, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, informed the Member of Parliament that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has approved an increase in the monthly NHM incentive for ASHA workers in the Islands from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 5,000. The decision has been approved as a special case considering the geographical location of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, their low population density and disease burden.
As per communication received here from MP office, the Health Mission stated that necessary correspondence for releasing the enhanced monthly incentive of Rs. 5,000 for June 2026, along with the remaining incentives for the period from April 2026 to June 2026, is currently under process and the amount will be released at the earliest.
Regarding the enhancement of the Administration’s share of the ASHA incentive, the Health Mission informed that the monthly incentive contributed by the State Health Budget is proposed to be increased from Rs. 500 to Rs. 3,500 per month for ASHA workers in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The proposal is presently under process for approval by the competent authority of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
The letter also addressed the issue of operationalisation of air ambulance services in the Islands. The Health Mission said that alternative funding mechanisms are being explored as air ambulance services were not covered under the NHM funding for the financial year 2026-27.In this regard, a proposal for providing air ambulance services using Defence aircraft is currently under examination by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. The move is aimed at exploring a viable mechanism for providing emergency air evacuation facilities to patients requiring urgent medical care, particularly in view of the geographical challenges faced by the remote Islands.
The Health Mission’s response follows the representation made by the Member of Parliament to the Chief Secretary on July 22, 2026, seeking enhancement of ASHA workers’ incentives and operationalisation of air ambulance services in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
