ASHA workers to cut hair in protest as strike reaches 50 days

Thiruvananthapuram: The ASHA workers protesting outside the Secretariat in Kerala have announced plans to escalate their agitation by staging a "hair-cutting demonstration" on Monday as their protest reaches its 50th day.

With no favorable response from the government, a section of the protesters launched an indefinite hunger strike last week, further intensifying the stir.

Mini S, a leader of the protesting ASHA workers, on Sunday criticized Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for his silence on their demands and vowed that the agitation would continue until their grievances were addressed.

"The CM is concerned even about animals, birds, and other creatures due to the heat wave warning in the state. But he has not uttered a word about the ASHA workers who have been protesting under the scorching sun for the last 50 days," she told reporters.

Mini S said that while she had cut her hair multiple times before, this was the first time she was doing so as part of a protest.

"Not just me, ASHA workers from several districts will cut their hair in protest. It will be a significant moment in our agitation," she added.

A section of ASHA workers has been staging protests for several weeks, demanding post-retirement benefits and an increase in their honorarium. However, the Left government in Kerala has stated that such a steep hike is not financially feasible and insisted that addressing ASHA workers' demands is the Centre’s responsibility.

The state government claims it has not received any funds from the central government under the National Health Mission (NHM) for 2023-24 to pay for various Centrally sponsored schemes, including ASHA incentives.

The central government, however, has rejected this assertion, stating that it has disbursed all due funds but has not received a utilization certificate from Kerala. It clarified that the required amount would be provided once the certificate is submitted.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda had also announced in Parliament that the Mission Steering Group of the NHM had decided to increase incentives for ASHA workers.

With PTI inputs