THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister V Sivankutty said the state government had compromised a lot to end the strike of ASHA workers, who have been protesting in front of the secretariat for 58 days. Nothing more could be done beyond this. Sivankutty said ASHA workers met him as the Minister of Labour and that he had accepted their memorandum.

The protesting committee yesterday submitted five memorandums to the minister, raising demands including increasing the honorarium. Sivankutty assured the protesters that a committee would be formed to study the demands within a month and submit a report. However, the strike committee replied that they would discuss the matter and inform their stand. The committee has decided to move forward strongly with the strike. As part of this, the strike committee has announced that they will organize a large gathering led by social and cultural activists in front of the secretariat on April 12.

The ASHA workers submitted a memorandum to the Minister of Labour after their talks of three rounds failed with Health Minister Veena George. The leaders of the committee informed that Minister Sivankutty had promised to talk to the health minister in reducing the time limit of the committee to study the issue to one month. The committee also said that they have hope in labour minister's words to intervene in ending the strike. Veena George welcomed the meeting of the strike committee leaders with the labour minister.