THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: ASHA workers, who have been relentlessly protesting for several days in front of the Secretariat, will escalate their demonstration by cutting their hair, as declared by the strike committee. The strike committee also accused that the government is taking retaliatory action against the ASHA workers. The strike committee announced that the government's action is extremely regrettable and that the ASHAs are going through a big crisis.

The leaders of the strike committee also stated that the ASHAs will cut their hair in protest in front of the Secretariat on Monday, the 50th day of the strike. The government should take action to end the strike by making a decent settlement. The hunger strike of the three ASHAs has entered its eighth day. While the government is turning its back on the strike, more than ten local bodies under the UDF regime have set aside money from their own funds to pay additional wages to ASHAs. However, this can be implemented only if the government gives its approval. After the budget discussion, the local bodies will approach the government for approval. The strike committee made it clear that the project cannot be implemented without government permission.