Congress has decided to take over the ongoing protest of ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers who have been on an indefinite agitation outside the state secretariat for the past two weeks. (Image:DC)
Thiruvananthapuram: The opposition Congress has decided to take over the ongoing protest of ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers who have been on an indefinite agitation outside the state secretariat for the past two weeks.
The Asha workers are demanding the payment of three months' dues and a hike in their honorarium from Rs 7000 to Rs 21,000. KPCC general secretary M Liju alleged that the LDF government is planning to remove the agitators from the protest site and use repressive measures. The authorities are threatening the ASHA workers that they would be replaced if they didn't return to work
The Congress workers will hold demonstrations and burn the government circular that threatens to throw them out of work. Congress workers, including Mahila Congress activists, will take out protest marches to the Secretariat and district collectorates on March 3.
While the government had no qualms in approving salary hike of PSC chairman, members and government counsels, it is refusing to accept the genuine demands of ASHA workers who are struggling to make ends meet.
The workers have also raised the demand for withdrawal of the stipulation of 62 retirement age.
Meanwhile, the CPM has dubbed the ASHA workers' strike as politically motivated. The party alleged that the workers were being misled by opposition parties for their vested political interests.
ASHA workers have played a key role in Kerala achieving high social and health indicators and bolstering its robust healthcare setup. These workers serve as a vital link between communities and the government's socio welfare and health programmes. They play a crucial role in monitoring the health of vulnerable populations, including the elderly.
Key tasks carried out by ASHA workers include conducting home visits for palliative care, regular health check-ups of elderly people, ensuring timely vaccination of children, assisting in OP wings, reporting on the health of pregnant women, tracking births and deaths and assisting in awareness programmes.
These tasks demonstrate the critical role ASHA workers play in supporting community health and well-being.
