‘Hike of only Rs 33 per day, honorarium meager'; Strike to continue, say ASHA workers 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Although the government increased the honorarium by Rs 1000, it is too inadequate and the strike will continue, said ASHA workers say. The strike committee will meet today to discuss future protest plans. There was only a hike of Rs 33 per day. They said that this does not even come close to the demand for minimum wage and the action of not announcing retirement benefits is deplorable. The ASHAs' strike at the Secretariat has completed 264 days.

With the local body and assembly elections approaching, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan yesterday announced welfare schemes that would satisfy all sections of the people. Welfare pension has been increased from Rs 1600 to Rs 2000. Other announcements included a monthly women's safety pension of Rs 1,000 for women aged between 35 and 60 from poor families, a one-time DA arrears for government employees, teachers and pensioners along with their November salaries, the third and fourth installments of the salary reform arrears will be paid this year, the arrears will be merged with the PF next April, cash will be given to those without PF, and a monthly scholarship of Rs 1,000 for five lakh youth to get jobs. All the benefits will come into effect on November 1, the chief minister said at a press conference after the cabinet meeting.