Latest news with #KeralaASHAHealthWorkersAssociation
The Hindu
28-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
ASHAs urges Kerala govt. to keep its promise by increasing honorarium
Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association (KAHWA), welcoming the decision of the National Health Mission to moderately increase the incentives and retirement benefits for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), has demanded that the State government keep its promise to the them. In a statement here, KAHWA reminded the State government about its promise to increase the honorarium for ASHAs if the Union government was prepared to hike the incentives paid to them. The strike by a section of ASHA workers in the State, demanding a hike in honorarium as well as a better pay package, has crossed 170 days. Garnered national attention It was the agitation by the ASHAs in Kerala that brought national attention to the 'exploitation' faced by this category of health workers and their poor pay and service conditions, elevating it to a significant labour movement. ASHAS who have been agitating in front of the Secretariat since February 10, had sought a hike in the honorarium paid by the State, along with pension and retirement benefits. Their strike had made national headlines and their demands had figured in both Houses of Parliament, thanks to the outpouring of public support for the demands they raised. KAHWA said that their agitation garnered widespread support because their demands were just. It said that it was the intense public scrutiny that forced the Centre to announce an increase – even if it was a nominal one – in ASHAs' incentives. KAHWA said that it had clearly communicated to the leaders of national parties who had visited them at the agitation venue that it was up to the State government to hike the honorarium while the hike in incentives had to be done by the Centre. The Centre had not hiked the incentives for ASHAs in a decade or more It said that the Chief Minister and other senior officials had said several times that they would increase the honorarium if the Centre hiked the incentives. The Centre has now declared a hike in retirement benefits from ₹20,000 to ₹50,000. The State government should take a cue from the West Bengal government and provide a retirement benefit of ₹5 lakh to ASHAs. It should also stop slashing the fixed incentives given to ASHAs by attaching new eligibility criteria to it, KAHWA said. It also urged the authorities to implement the decisions of the Central NHM without delay.
The Hindu
22-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Panel to hear trade unions representing ASHAs on June 30
A committee formed by the State government to study the problems faced by the Accredited Social Health Activist Workers (ASHAs) will hear the trade unions representing them on June 30. The hearing will be held at the South Conference Hall of the Secretariat. The Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association, the CITU-backed Kerala State ASHA Workers Federation, the INTUC-backed All Kerala Pradesh ASHA Workers Congress, the ASHA Workers Federation (STU) and the AITUC-backed All India Trade Union Congress have been given time at the hearing. Each union can be represented by up to three persons, of which two should be ASHAs, according to a direction issued by the State Health and Family Welfare department. ASHAs have been on agitation mode demanding better remuneration and retirement benefits.
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
ASHAs' protest completes 100 days in Thiruvananthapuram
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The strike by ASHA workers in front of the Secretariat entered its 100th day on Tuesday. A torch rally symbolising their ongoing struggle was taken out. Poet Rose Mary lit the fire for 100 torches to commemorate the occasion. The 100th-day protest meeting was presided over by Mini, state vice-president of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association. KPCC president Sunny Joseph, who attended the gathering, expressed solidarity with the protesters, assuring them that public support was firmly behind their demands. ASHA workers have been demanding a monthly honorarium of Rs 21,000 and a retirement benefit of Rs 5 lakh - issues that remain unresolved. Responding to questions during a media interaction in Kozhikode, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan ruled out the possibility of holding further discussions. Though the government has constituted a committee to examine the honorarium issue, the protesters alleged that it is merely a tactic to deflect attention and weaken the agitation.
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
ASHA workers' protest draws wide support in Kannur
The ongoing day-and-night protest march by ASHA workers received wide support as it entered Kannur district on Wednesday, with prominent political and social figures expressing solidarity with them. The march, which began in Kasaragod on Monday (May 5, 2025), is organised by the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association (KAHWA) to press its long-standing demands for better pay and working conditions. Inaugurating the district leg of the protest at Payyannur, poet Madhavan Purachery came down on the State government for 'adopting a neo-liberal and corporate-friendly approach while ignoring people's movements.' He urged the government to build consensus and listen to ASHA workers' demands. The protest march was ceremonially received at the Payyannur new bus stand by anti-K-Rail activists P. Padmini and Yashodamma, who garlanded march captain M.A. Bindu. The march later proceeded to Perumba. Voicing support at various receptions were leaders across political and social spectrums, including the Indian Union Muslim League's V.K.P. Ismail, District Congress Committee general secretary Lalitha Teacher, CMP's B. Sajith Lal, and CPI(ML) Red Star's Vinod Kumar Ramanthali, among others. The events also saw the participation of representatives of women's organisations, trade unions, and environmental groups.
