Thiruvananthapuram: The ongoing protest by ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers in Kerala triggered heated discussions in the state assembly, with the opposition UDF strongly criticizing the government’s approach to addressing their demands. The issue was raised through an adjournment motion by Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, leading to a war of words between him and Health Minister Veena George.
Mamkootathil accused the LDF government of neglecting ASHA workers’ grievances, highlighting that many of them had not received their honorarium for the past three months. He pointed out that despite the LDF’s manifesto promise of a minimum wage of ₹7,000, the government has failed to ensure timely payments. He also alleged that the police forcibly removed tarpaulin sheets set up by protesters to protect themselves from rain, calling it a blatant act of suppression.
In response, Health Minister Veena George defended the government, reiterating that Kerala provides the highest remuneration to ASHA workers in the country. She stated that 89.98% of ASHA workers in Kerala receive between ₹10,000 and ₹13,000 per month, with the state government contributing ₹9,400. She also emphasized that the government remains committed to increasing their wages further and has already provided festival allowances for ASHA workers—an initiative pioneered by Kerala.
However, the opposition was not convinced by the minister’s explanation. Mamkootathil countered that while the state government claims the responsibility of increasing wages lies with the Centre, protests have been held in Haryana and West Bengal demanding state-level increments as well. He also criticized the chief minister for ignoring the protest, questioning why elected representatives seek votes from the public but refuse to address their concerns after coming to power.
The heated debate underscored the growing discontent among ASHA workers and highlighted the political tensions surrounding the issue. Despite the government’s assurances, the opposition vowed to continue pressuring the administration to resolve the workers’ concerns at the earliest.
