THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: ASHA workers have announced a new form of protest in front of the Secretariat. The strike committee has announced that a hunger strike will begin at the protest venue from Thursday. Three Asha workers will be on hunger strike. For the past 36 days, Asha workers from various districts of Kerala have been protesting day and night in front of the Secretariat to fulfill their demands. The Asha workers started the Secretariat blockade today due to the constant neglect of the government and the labour organizations.

The blockade began at 9 am. It has been announced that the blockade will end at 6 pm. A blockade with pots and pans is currently underway on MG Road. Opposition leader VD Satheesan and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala have expressed support for the blockade. The strike committee's stance is that the strike will continue until the government accepts their demands.

Meanwhile, the government has issued an order accepting one more demand of the protesters. The government has issued an order withdrawing the ten criteria set for ASHAs to receive honorarium. Health Minister Veena George had said in the Assembly the other day that it has been decided to withdraw the criteria.

Along with demands such as increasing the honorarium and providing retirement benefits, the protesters had also demanded the withdrawal of the criteria. The ASHAs complained that they were only receiving a meagre honorarium due to the complicated criteria. The ASHAs said that the government's decision shows the victory of the protest. However, they clarified that they would not end the protest without increasing the honorarium.