Kerala ASHA Workers’ Strike: Demands and Government Stand
Why in the news
ASHA workers in Kerala kept up a prolonged round-the-clock protest demanding better pay and security, while the State and the Centre blamed each other over funds and policy.
Key facts
- ASHA: Accredited Social Health Activist, a trained woman community health worker who links villagers with the public health system.
- Strength in Kerala: 26,125, under the National Health Mission (NHM).
- Scheme started: 2005; ASHAs are still classed as volunteers.
- Protest has lasted over two months, led by the Kerala ASHA Health Workers’ Association (KAHWA).
Demands
| Demand | Detail |
|---|---|
| Honorarium | ₹21,000 a month, matching the ₹700 daily minimum wage |
| Retirement | ₹5 lakh lump sum |
| Payment criteria | Scrap performance conditions linked to honorarium |
| Status | Move from volunteer to regular staff with salary, pension and social security |
Positions of State and Centre
- State: ASHA is a Union initiative so the Centre should reform it; ₹636 crore under NHM for FY 2023-24 is pending; criteria-linked conditions were removed but a pay rise is unaffordable.
- Centre: the Union Health Minister accepted in Parliament that incentives need revision, but gave no timeline.
- In talks, the State refused an interim ₹3,000 hike and offered a study committee instead.
Concerns
- ASHAs lack formal labour protections despite central role in public health.
- Workload grew sharply, especially after COVID, but policy has not kept pace.
Exam angle
- ASHA operates under NHM; launched 2005.
- Frontline worker issues: honorarium, volunteer status, social security.