Asha workers to launch statewide protest march from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram, demanding better wages and benefits
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
: The striking ASHA workers have decided to intensify their agitation by launching a statewide protest march beginning from Kasaragod. The 45-day long march will begin on May 5. The decision was taken as the govt was not ready to resolve their strike, which completed 71 days.
Starting from Kasaragod on May 5 and reaching Thiruvananthapuram on June 17, this protest march will be an unprecedented event in the women's labour movement in the state, said the striking ASHA workers.
Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association state general secretary MA Bindu will be the captain of this march. The flag-off of this protest march will coincide with the May Day rally organised in front of the
Secretariat
on May 1.
The protest march will travel through each district for two or three days, sleeping on the streets at night, similar to the ongoing protest in front of the Secretariat.
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"We are confident that the public will support this protest march," said the association leaders. Prominent figures from the district and state will participate in reception meetings held in various cities across the 14 districts. After travelling for 45 days, the protest march will reach the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on June 17, where ASHA workers from across the state will join.
Despite 71 days of day-and-night protest and 33 days of indefinite hunger strike by ASHA workers in front of the Secretariat, demanding an increase in honorarium to live without hunger and a retirement benefit, the govt has not budged.
The association leaders alleged that the govt is showing an unprecedented anti-democratic stance towards these poorest female workers.
Even though the public, both inside and outside the state, supports the legitimacy of the ASHA workers' demands, the govt is unwilling to meet these minimum requests. The govt's arrogant and narrow-minded approach to protests challenges the democratic system, they alleged.
In this situation, considering the opinions of the civic society supporting this protest, especially social and cultural activists, we have decided to extend the protest across the state with a night-and-day protest march by ASHA workers, the association leader said.
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