The ongoing protests by ASHA workers and female Civil Police Officer (CPO) rank holders continue in front of the Kerala Secretariat. With just two days remaining before the expiry of the current rank list, the rank holders are intensifying their agitation. Their primary demand is for the state government to make maximum appointments from the existing list before it becomes invalid. However, after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan rejected their demands, the protestors have little hope of a favorable decision.
Despite the odds, the rank holders have decided to continue their agitation till the very last day. As a symbolic act of protest, they plan to lay a wreath at 11 a.m. today. According to the protesters, while there are 570 vacant positions, only 292 appointments have been made so far. The Chief Minister, however, maintains that the government has made as many appointments as possible within the available vacancies.
Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court has declined to intervene in the indefinite protest staged by ASHA workers. A public interest litigation (PIL) seeking court intervention to resolve the issue was dismissed by the High Court division bench. The ASHA workers’ indefinite relay protest has now reached its 67th day, while their hunger strike continues into its 29th day. The government’s silence has further fueled frustration and disappointment among the protestors, who continue to demand justice and fair recruitment.
