Ludhiana, Aug. 29 -- With salaries pending for the past three months, several Asha workers under the banner of the Asha Workers and Facilitators Union staged a protest outside the civil surgeon office in Ludhiana on Thursday.

The protesting workers accused the health department of "exploiting their services" despite years of duty without regular pay or benefits. Raising slogans against the state government, they demanded immediate release of pending salaries, restoration of allowances, and regularisation of their jobs.

The protesting workers noted that they have been serving in the health department for over 17 years, and are subjected to large-scale exploitation while their grievances have long been ignored.

The protesting workers hig...