A major controversy has erupted in Panagar block of Jabalpur district following the sudden termination of an Urban ASHA worker, Usha Sen, who allegedly exposed bribery and corruption within the local healthcare administration. According to President of Asha Usha Paryaveshak Ekta Union (AUPEU) (MP), Preeti Vishwakarma, who in the presence of all the office-bearers and members, submitted a memorandum to the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) and Collector on Monday. Notably, Usha Sen, who was posted in Ward Number 06 of Panagar, had her services abruptly terminated on May 27, 2026. The union alleged that the trouble began when an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), identified as Shalini Singh, allegedly demanded Rs 2,000 bribe out of Rs 16,000 benefit payout under the Government’s Sambal Yojana given to a delivery beneficiary. When ASHA worker Usha Sen firmly refused to comply with or facilitate the bribe, the ANM allegedly retaliated by refusing to sign Sen’s official payment sheets and pressuring the ASHA Supervisor, Meena Nikhar, to withhold signatures as well. As a result, Sen’s salary/dues for April and May 2026 were completely blocked.

 

In response to the injustice, Sen lodged a formal complaint on the CM Helpline. Rather than investigating the ANM, the block medical officials reportedly pressured Sen to withdraw her complaint. When Sen refused to back down until her withheld payments were cleared, block officials allegedly misled the local ward Corporator, Shivkumari Rajkumar Banshkar, into issuing a negative report against her. This report was used as a pretext to terminate her services on May 27, 2026. Presently, the union leaders, President Vishwakarma and District General Secretary Pooja Kanojia highlighted that once the local Corporator realised she had been misled, she issued a corrective letter to the Block Medical Officer (BMO) on May 29, 2026, requesting Sen’s immediate reinstatement. However, despite the Corporator’s retraction, no corrective action has been taken by the authorities. The union has strongly condemned the administration for protecting corrupt officials while targeting an honest healthcare worker out of personal malice, demanding immediate justice and the reinstatement of Usha Sen.