Govt invites ASHA workers for talks, orders needed, not announcements, say protests committee

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has invited the ASHA workers for talks as the day-night strike of them in front of the secretariat has entered its 52nd day. The talks will be held at Health Minister Veena George's office at 3 pm tomorrow. This is the third time the government is inviting them for talks. The first two rounds were a failure. The protest committee said that they have hope in the talks to be held tomorrow.

‘The last two rounds did not yield any results. The government demanded them to withdraw from the strike without discussing the demands raised by them. This led to the failure of the talks. No further information has been received about the talks to be held tomorrow. We have hope in the talks. The government is aware of our demands. Other trade unions have also been invited for the talks. The strike will be ended only after the demands are met. There will be no compromises. What is needed is not the government's announcements, but an order,' the panel said.

Veena George had yesterday said that her meeting with Union Health Minister J P Nadda was positive. ‘The union minister informed that increasing the incentive is under the consideration of the Center and will be examined. I have received an assurance that the issue of arrears for the year 2023-2024 will also be considered. I spoke in detail on behalf of the Asha workers. I had said earlier that the problems of the Asha workers will be resolved. The stance is to withdraw the strike. The Center should take a decision on declaring them as workers instead of volunteers. The details of the discussion with the Center will be informed to the Asha workers. INTUC has requested that talks be held with everyone,’ the minister said.