Centre provides Rs 1800, Kerala's share Rs 1200; 'Conspiracy involved in ASHA protest' says Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister V. Sivankutty says the protest by a section of ASHA workers in front of the secretariat is hypocritical. Since ASHA is a scheme developed by the Centre, 60 percent of the amount to be given as an incentive to ASHA workers is borne by the Centre and 40 percent by the State. Out of the fixed incentive of Rs 3,000 set by the Centre, Rs 1,800 is given by the Centre and Rs 1,200 by the State.

In addition to this, the Kerala government is also providing an honorarium of Rs 7,000 and a share of other incentives. However, the minister clarified that the fact that the protesters demanding an increase in the honorarium provided by the state government and are not demanding an increase in the central incentive reveals a conspiracy.

The Left government was the first to announce an honorarium for ASHA workers and increased the honorarium in a big way. When the previous government came to power, the monthly honorarium of ASHAs was Rs. 1000 per month. Since then, the LDF government has increased the monthly honorarium from Rs. 1500 to Rs. 7000.

The propaganda that ASHA workers receive only Rs. 7,000 is baseless. ASHA workers who work under certain conditions receive a total of Rs 13,200 including telephone allowance, of which about Rs 10,000 is the state's share.

Yet the fact that the protesters are welcoming UDF leaders along with the BJP leaders - representatives of the central government - who are not ready to increase their incentive, shows double standards. This is clear from the statement of the SUCI leader regarding the state health minister's visit to meet the central health minister, Minister V Sivankutty pointed out.