‘Anarchic organizations behind ASHA workers' strike’; criticizes Elamaram Kareem's article

KOZHIKODE: The strike staged by ASHA workers' have been criticized in CPM’s mouthpiece. CPM Central Committee member Elamaram Kareem said in the article that this is a strike that is being carried out by misleading a few ASHA workers. The article is titled ‘This protest drama is for whom’.

This is a repeat of the strike organized by a section of workers of Tata Tea Estate in Munnar under the name 'Pembillai Orumai'. The article said the strike was started by some anarchist organizations by misleading a few ASHA workers on the same model.

The article says
The scheme called ASHA was started in 2005. The scheme was started with the aim of reducing infant mortality rate by connecting the rural population with the public health movement, ensuring the safety of pregnant women and providing health care to the grassroots. The NHM system said women selected for service should be considered as volunteers. For this reason, the principle of fair salary or minimum wage does not apply. ASHA, Anganwadi, NHM, MNREG etc. are all such central schemes.

States have the power to implement central schemes only as per the provisions. Only those appointed by the state government can be given salary and other benefits as per the law.

Since they are serving under the health department in the state, it is not possible for any government to implement the demand of getting salary and benefits like other employees as per the law. Did the Congress, which is supporting the ongoing strike, implement this when Oommen Chandy was the Chief Minister?

The ASHA scheme was introduced when the Congress was in power. Even then, it was not introduced in Kerala. The VS government later introduced the ASHA scheme. A festival allowance of Rs 500 each was given during Onam. Then it was decided to give an honorarium of Rs 3000. Even after 14 months of the UDF government coming to power in 2011, no honorarium or incentive was given. In 2016, the then health minister K K Shailaja took the initiative and took a pro-ASHA stance. Even when the Center did not give money, it was spent from the state fund. Even when the Center canceled the Aswasakiranam Insurance Scheme for ASHAs, no organization except CITU raised its voice.

Meantime, ASHA workers are extending the strike to district centers. They will hold a strike in Alappuzha and Malappuram on 27th and in Kozhikode on 28th. The strike will be extended to more districts. Officials have asked for a report on the work done and it has been decided not to submit it. The honorarium dues were received only for the month of December. The strike committee also clarified that paid full dues is a false propaganda.