THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) workers have decided to continue their strike as talks they held with the government failed to reach a consensus. No assurance was received from the government on any of the important issues. Issues including retirement benefits and an increase in honorarium were not decided. ASHA workers also announced that they will march to the Secretariat on the 20th of this month.

ASHA workers are staging a day-and-night strike in front of the Secretariat under the leadership of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association. There are currently 30,113 ASHA workers in the state. Even if they take leave for emergencies, their honorarium will be reduced. ASHA workers are appointed as part of the National Health Scheme. They are struggling due to their workload. They are complaining that it is an unfair situation that after working hard from 7 am to 8 pm throughout the week, they have to further struggle to acquire the salary and incentives they deserve.

The main complaints raised by ASHA workers are that there are no fixed working hours, they have to work on Sundays, which are in principle a holiday; if they take a leave, that day is deducted from the honorarium; leave is given on special days based on religion; they have to pay their own vehicle fare; and there is no pension, health insurance, or other benefits.