266 days in front of secretariat; day-and-night strike of ASHA workers to end today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The day-night strike by ASHA workers in front of the secretariat for 266 days will come to an end today. It will be concluded with a protest-declaration rally. The strike committee has decided to extend the strike to other districts. A grand rally will also be organized at the secretariat on February 10, the first anniversary of the strike.

The strike will continue with demands such as an honorarium of Rs 21,000 and a retirement benefit of Rs 5 lakh. Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association General Secretary MA Bindu told Kerala Kaumudi that the day-night strike is being called off because the government, which had said it would not increase the honorarium by even five paise, increased the honorarium by Rs 1,000. She also clarified that the state government, which took the stand that it is the central government that should increase the honorarium, finally accepted defeat in front of the protesters.

The ASHAs began a day-and-night strike in front of the secretariat on February 10 this year with demands including an increase in honorarium. Various local bodies announced benefits for ASHAs following the strike, but the ASHAs allege that the government blocked them. The decision has been made to use the strike politically in the local elections in this situation. Along with the house visits that are part of the job, ASHAs will go door-to-door and campaign against the government at the regional levels.