THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ASHA workers' secretariat protest, which has been ongoing for 26 days and nights, continues to capture attention. On this International Women's Day, Kerala Kaumudi is telling the story of their resilience. Surabhi, an ASHA worker from Menamkulam, used to take care of elderly patients suffering from various illnesses. All this time, three-month-old Niraamayi would gaze at her mother from the carrier bag on Surabhi’s chest. While Surabhi worked, Niraamayi would cry from hunger until she became exhausted and fell asleep. This was Surabhi’s life.

Today, she continues her struggle at the protest site with her child. "Why don't you rest for a while? Isn't the child too young?" some would ask. A teary-eyed Surabhi would respond by saying, "If I rest, how will I raise her?" Surabhi’s mother was an ASHA worker for 18 years and passed away two years ago after being bedridden due to knee problems. Surabhi got her mother's job. Her eldest son is 4 years old, and her husband Vineeth is a labourer.

Despite sitting at the protest camp, Chenkottukonam native Girija's heart is with her daughter, who is writing her Plus Two exams. "I couldn't even bless her properly before the exam," she says.

Due to financial constraints, she couldn't afford tuition for her daughter. Girija's wish for her daughter to become a doctor brings both sorrow and hope. "My husband said that he would set our house on fire if I join the protest. After much deliberation, I decided to join the protest. During my childhood, I wanted to become a social worker. That's why I became an ASHA worker. Now, I've become a real activist," she said.

Shalini’s struggle to reclaim her family

Shalini joined the protest to reclaim her broken family. During the time she was running around caring for COVID patients, she couldn’t even provide food for her children. "There was no way to get food then," Shalini says. When problems began in her marriage, she agreed to let her children stay with her husband. Now, a divorce case is ongoing. Her eldest son, Ananthu, scored full A+ grades in the 10th grade, and her younger son, Anand, is in the 9th grade. Shalini hopes that if the protest is successful, she will be able to reunite with her children.