Suman Kamble (Kolhapur, Maharashtra), Dalit ASHA worker

Suman Kamble is a 48-year-old Dalit ASHA worker from Chandgad taluka in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra. Employed since 2009, she has worked in grassroots health promotion for over 16 years alongside three other ASHA workers—one Muslim and two Marathas.

Throughout her tenure, Kamble faced systematic harassment and discrimination from her Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) supervisor. The ANM withheld critical work information, filed complaints to authorities over minor infractions, and forced Kamble to perform unpaid household labor outside her job responsibilities, including cleaning spices and rice and washing the supervisor's dishes. The supervisor also reassigned patients away from Kamble, directly reducing her work opportunities and incentive payments.

Despite her years of dedicated service to her community's health, Kamble experienced profound social isolation among her workplace colleagues. She noted that coworkers formed tight-knit groups and excluded her from their conversations and social interactions. Only her Muslim colleague extended solidarity by sharing meals with her. This caste-based exclusion compounded the harassment she endured. Kamble remained silent about the mistreatment for years, fearing job loss and lacking alternative employment options.