Government with new sabotage move; Health Department's training program for ASHAs on the day of Secretariat blockade 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has taken a new step to sabotage the Secretariat blockade on Monday that will be held by the Asha workers who are continuing their strike in the capital. The Health Department announced a training program for Asha workers in various districts on Monday, the day the Secretariat blockade has to take place. The training program has been organized for ASHA workers in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha and Kottayam districts. The district program managers have issued notices demanding that all ASHA workers must participate in the training program.

ASHA workers have been protesting in front of the secretariat for more than a month now. The ASHA workers are demanding that the honorarium of Rs 7,000 be increased to Rs 21,000, that it be distributed before the 5th of every month, Rs 5 lakh be given as retirement benefit, and pension.

Meanwhile, CPM Central Committee member E.P. Jayarajan came out against the strike of ASHA workers. CPM Central Committee member EP Jayarajan said that the strike by ASHA workers in front of the Secretariat is unneeded. ASHA workers were in the service sector. Initially, they did not even have an honorarium. It was the LDF government that increased their wages and benefits to Rs 7000, EP Jayarajan said.

'This is a strike that was started by evil minds. It has a political purpose. They are making those women suffer by misleading them and bringing them before the Secretariat and creating an unnecessary strike. Therefore, what they should do as soon as possible is end this strike. We are not against the strike. This strike, which was carried out at an unnecessary time, has arisen from the intelligence of some people with a political scheme in mind. We can never accept such a strike,' said EP Jayarajan.