ASHA workers mark 50 days by cutting their hair

Accredited Social Health Activists in Thiruvananthapuram escalated their ongoing protest on Monday by cutting their hair in front of the Kerala Secretariat, symbolising their frustration over unmet demands. This act marked the 50th day of their indefinite strike, which began on February 10.
The demonstrators are advocating for post-retirement benefits and an increase in their monthly honorarium from ₹7,000 to ₹21,000. Despite their pivotal role during the COVID-19 pandemic, they allege that approximately 26,000 ASHA workers across the state are awaiting at least two months' honorarium and three months' incentives.
In addition to the hair-cutting demonstration, some workers commenced an indefinite hunger strike on March 20 after negotiations with the government failed. Leaders such as S. Mini have criticised Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for his silence, noting his attention to other issues like the heatwave's impact on wildlife while ignoring the plight of ASHA workers protesting under the scorching sun for 50 days.
The state government maintains that a significant hike in honorarium is impractical, attributing payment delays to the central government's failure to disburse funds under the National Health Mission for the 2023-24 period. Conversely, the central government asserts that it has allocated the necessary funds and awaits the state's submission of utilisation certificates before releasing further payments.
The opposition United Democratic Front has pledged to increase ASHA workers' honorarium in local bodies under its control. However, Local Self-Government Minister M.B. Rajesh dismissed this promise as a political manoeuvre, suggesting that the UDF and BJP's plan is impractical and intended to mislead the workers. Open URL