The indefinite day-night protest by ASHA workers at the Kerala Secretariat has now reached its 47th day, with no signs of resolution. Adding to the intensity of the agitation, the hunger strike by three ASHA workers has also entered its ninth consecutive day. As part of their continued struggle for better wages and improved working conditions, the workers are set to hold protests in Kottayam and Kozhikode today.
Despite the government’s delay in addressing their demands, various municipalities and panchayats have stepped up by announcing additional honorariums for ASHA workers. Several UDF-led municipalities, including Perumbavoor, Mannarkad, and Maradu, as well as the BJP-ruled Mutholi Grama Panchayat in Kottayam, have committed to providing extra financial support to these frontline health workers. Perumbavoor and Maradu municipalities have pledged an additional Rs. 2000, while Mannarkad Municipality has promised Rs. 2100. Notably, Mutholi Grama Panchayat has gone a step further, offering an additional Rs. 7000, significantly boosting the earnings of ASHA workers in the region.
Although these local-level interventions provide some relief, the larger demand for a government-mandated wage increase remains unresolved. ASHA workers continue to demand higher honorariums, better job security, and improved working conditions, emphasizing their crucial role in Kerala’s healthcare system. With protests escalating and no concrete response from the state government yet, all eyes are now on the authorities to address the grievances of ASHA workers and bring an end to the prolonged strike.
