Kerala’s scorching summer has not deterred thousands of women ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers from their day-and-night strike in front of the State secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, demanding a hike in honorarium, retirement benefits and improved service conditions.
The protest (on since February 10) has stirred an intense political debate, with the ruling LDF government seemingly turning a deaf ear to the workers’ demands, and the opposition parties Congress and BJP expressing solidarity with the agitating women.
Protesting under the umbrella of the Kerala Asha Health Workers Association, affiliated to Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) — a left-wing political party with a marginal following in Kerala — the ASHA workers are seeking a hike in monthly honorarium from ₹7,000 to ₹21,000, and retirement benefits of ₹5 lakh along with pension and gratuity.
Poll assurance
S Mini, vice president of Kerala Asha Workers Federation, says the demand for raising the daily wage from ₹235 to ₹700 is in accordance with the offer made by the LDF government in its election manifesto, in recognition of the yeoman services of ASHA workers during the Covid pandemic, Nipah outbreak, and the 2018 floods.
“The attrition due to low wages has raised the intensity of work, with each worker serving 3,000 people instead of 1,000 as before. The government order restraining ASHAs from taking up other jobs has shut other avenues of income to them. The pending dues of two months’ honorarium and three months’ incentives have made it difficult for them to make ends meet,” Mini said, urging the Kerala government to emulate West Bengal, which offers ₹5 lakh retirement benefits to ASHA workers.
The Asha Workers Federation, affiliated to CITU — the trade union of CPI (M) — has termed the strike as “unnecessary” and “motivated by anarchic groups”.
Political tussle
Following an uproar in the State Legislative Assembly over the issue, Health Minister Veena George argued that Kerala paid the highest honorarium to ASHAs, and nearly 90 per cent of them earn ₹10,000-13,000 a month, of which the State contributes ₹9,400.
The honorarium paid by the State was raised from ₹1,000 in 2016 to ₹7,000 at present. The minister said that the government would again request the Centre to revise the basic concept of ASHAs to make them a regular workforce, rather than just health volunteers.
Accusing Kerala of failing to pay the salaries and dues of ASHA workers, the Central government said that the Union health ministry has provided an additional ₹120 crore as a fifth instalment, beyond the State’s entitlement of ₹1,913 crore, which was dispensed earlier in four instalments.
Meanwhile, healthcare’s first line of defence keeps up its fight — for an honourable resolution of its grievances.