Kerala’s New UDF Govt Unveils Free Bus Travel for Women, Welfare Push
Kerala to launch India’s first elderly care department
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Within hours of taking office, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan led his first Cabinet meeting on Monday, rolling out a host of major welfare measures. The move marks the beginning of a bold, people-focused governance style under the new Congress-led UDF administration.
In a big move, the government has announced free travel for women on KSRTC buses starting June 15, delivering on one of its main election promises. His announcement was welcomed by women across the state.
CM Satheesan also revealed plans for a new department focused on senior citizens’ welfare, calling it the first of its kind in the country. Inspired by Japan’s elderly care system, he said a detailed study of the model will be completed in the next two months.
The Chief Minister said after the Cabinet meeting; ``the way a society treats its elderly speaks volumes about its values, and Kerala is on track to becoming a model state in providing care for senior citizens."
The government quickly acted on long-standing demands from Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers, granting a Rs 3,000 increase to their monthly honorarium, bringing it up to Rs 12,000. “When the ASHA workers sat in strike in front of Secretariat for 265 days, I as opposition leader met them and promised to resolve their problems after coming to power. We will implement retirement benefits as well,” he said.
Anganwadi workers, catering staff, pre-primary teachers, and ayahs also received a Rs 1,000 wage hike. The Chief Minister mentioned that more benefits could be introduced as the state’s finances get better. The Cabinet decided to bring a white paper on state’s financial situation. With public debt reportedly nearing 3.57 lakh crore, the state's finances have gone from bad to worse.
The Cabinet has decided to form a Special Investigation Team to re-examine the brutal assault on two Congress workers in December 2023 by CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s gunmen. Although a magistrate court had ordered a re-probe, the government delayed acting on the directive.
When asked if this was political vendetta, the CM responded, “We are implementing the court order, so how can this be called political vendetta? We don’t forget anything.”
