ASHA workers announce indefinite hunger strike from March 20
ASHA workers in Kerala will go on an indefinite hunger strike to intensify their protest. Leaders of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers’ Association (KAHWA) announced that three ASHAs will begin the hunger strike before the Secretariat on Thursday, March 20, which marks the 36th day of the protest. The announcement was made on Monday, March 17, when thousands of ASHA workers from across the state gathered outside the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram and staged a large-scale blockade. Despite weeks of protests demanding improved honorarium and retirement benefits, the government has yet to respond to their demands.“Our workload has increased over the years, and we are working relentlessly for days and nights. We are entitled to a daily wage of Rs 233, which is insufficient as we struggle daily to even reach the worksite, spending up to Rs 250 on travelling. Despite our protests, we are constantly ignored. But we will not stop until our demands are met,” Salma Sulaiman, an ASHA worker, who came all the way from Thrissur to Thiruvananthapuram, told TNM.In Kerala, ASHA workers currently receive a monthly honorarium of Rs. 7,000. However, they receive full payment only after the completion of at least five out of ten specific tasks enlisted by the National Health Mission with each task valued at R 700. These tasks include running a clinic, preparing ward reports and conducting community outreach. The payment of a fixed incentive of Rs 3000 was also linked to conditions.ASHA workers had earlier expressed their distress over these complex guidelines, which restrict their honorarium to a meagre amount. Along with demands for increasing the honorarium and providing retirement benefits, they also called for the removal of these guidelines. On Monday, after the ASHA workers laid a blockade to the Secretariat, the Kerala government finally issued an order waiving the criteria for disbursing honorariums. The order also revised the conditions linked to the fixed incentive payment and introduced concessions. KAHWA has said that they will continue the protests until all of their demands are met. Along with ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers also staged a protest on March 17, led by the Indian National Anganwadi Employees Federation (INAEF) affiliated with the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC). Key demands include an increase in monthly wages to Rs 21,000, improved service benefits, and application of the Employees’ State Insurance Act (ESI Act) of 1948, which assures benefits in case of sickness, maternity, and employment injury.Read: Who cares for the carers? Calling out the exploitation of ASHAsRead: Workers, not volunteers: ASHAs in India need formal status, better pay
ASHA workers in Kerala will go on an indefinite hunger strike to intensify their protest.
Leaders of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers’ Association (KAHWA) announced that three ASHAs will begin the hunger strike before the Secretariat on Thursday, March 20, which marks the 36th day of the protest.
The announcement was made on Monday, March 17, when thousands of ASHA workers from across the state gathered outside the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram and staged a large-scale blockade. Despite weeks of protests demanding improved honorarium and retirement benefits, the government has yet to respond to their demands.
“Our workload has increased over the years, and we are working relentlessly for days and nights. We are entitled to a daily wage of Rs 233, which is insufficient as we struggle daily to even reach the worksite, spending up to Rs 250 on travelling. Despite our protests, we are constantly ignored. But we will not stop until our demands are met,” Salma Sulaiman, an ASHA worker, who came from Thrissur to Thiruvananthapuram, told TNM.
In Kerala, ASHA workers currently receive a monthly honorarium of Rs. 7,000. However, they receive full payment only after the completion of at least five out of 10 specific tasks enlisted by the National Health Mission with each task valued at Rs 700.
These tasks include running a clinic, preparing ward reports and conducting community outreach. The payment of a fixed incentive of Rs 3000 was also linked to conditions.
ASHA workers had earlier expressed their distress over these complex guidelines, which restrict their honorarium to a meagre amount. Along with demands for increasing the honorarium and providing retirement benefits, they also called for the removal of these guidelines.
On Monday, after the ASHA workers laid a blockade to the Secretariat, the Kerala government finally issued an order waiving the criteria for disbursing honorariums. The order also revised the conditions linked to the fixed incentive payment and introduced concessions.
KAHWA has said that they will continue the protests until all of their demands are met.
Along with ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers also staged a protest on March 17, led by the Indian National Anganwadi Employees Federation (INAEF) affiliated with the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC).
Key demands include an increase in monthly wages to Rs 21,000, improved service benefits, and application of the Employees’ State Insurance Act (ESI Act) of 1948, which assures benefits in case of sickness, maternity, and employment injury.
Read: Who cares for the carers? Calling out the exploitation of ASHAs
Read: Workers, not volunteers: ASHAs in India need formal status, better pay
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