ASHA workers begin hunger strike, opposition expresses support

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With talks failing and the government refusing to accept their demands, the ASHA workers began an indefinite hunger strike from yesterday. The round-the-clock protest that has been going on for 39 days in front of the Secretariat has now entered its third phase.

The hunger strike was initiated by M.A. Bindu, State General Secretary of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association, along with ASHA workers Sheeja R. and Thankamani. The strike, which started at 11 AM yesterday, was inaugurated by K.G. Thara, former head of the State Disaster Management Centre and a social activist. ASHA workers accused the government of deceiving them.

At 3:53 PM, opposition MLAs, led by Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan, staged a march to the protest site after boycotting the Assembly, expressing their support for the hunger strike. Congress leader V.M. Sudheeran, CMP leader C.P. John, MLA Chandy Oommen, Joseph M. Puthussery, and former minister V.S. Sivakumar also visited the protest site to show solidarity.