4 days ago
KAHWA accuses Kerala government of being vengeful towards ASHAs
The Kerala ASHA Health Workers' Association (KAHWA) has accused the Kerala government of being vengeful towards ASHAs, close on the heels of a statement made by the Chief Minister that the government was not prepared to enter into any compromise with the ASHAs in the matter of an enhanced pay package.
At a press conference here on Monday, KAHWA leaders accused the government of slashing ASHAs' honorarium of ₹7,000 by bringing in new caveats regarding incentives. They alleged that the majority of ASHAs had received only ₹3,500 in April as honorarium in place of the usual ₹7,000.
They said that one of the primary demands raised by ASHAs had been that the 10 conditions linked to the full payment of the honorarium be dropped. The Health Minister, during discussions, had agreed to non-conditional payment of honorarium. However, the subsequent government order released by the government regarding the same had been ambiguous and the ASHAs had claimed that rather than drop the conditions fully, the government had tagged the same to the incentives received by ASHAs.
The government had denied this allegation.
KAHWA leaders said that as per the 'new' conditions, ASHAs, whose fixed incentive is ₹1,000 and whose performance incentive is less than ₹500, will henceforth receive only ₹3,500 as honorarium. Thus, many ASHAs across districts had received only ₹3,500 as the honorarium for April, they said.
They demanded that the new condition, which cuts the honorarium of ASHAs, be withdrawn immediately.
The KAHWA also alleged that the government, despite promises, continued to maintain an erratic schedule of payment of honorarium and incentives. By slashing the honorarium and not making payments properly, the government was trying to impose a financial squeeze on ASHAs.
Indefinite strike
The indefinite strike launched by ASHAs under the banner of KAHWA entered the 113th day on Monday.
The KAHWA claimed that the strike was being prolonged because of the government's undemocratic, anti-labour and anti-woman stance towards ASHAs' fair demand for a better pay.
Meanwhile, KAHWA members have been carrying on their Statewide tour of all districts, to generate public support towards their cause. They have toured nine districts in the past 29 days and the public outpouring of support has been immense, KAHWA leaders said.
ASHAs will take out a mega rally in Thiruvananthapuram on June 18, at the conclusion of their Statewide tour.
