Free bus ride for women, higher pay for ASHA workers: New Kerala government implements pre-poll promises

Thiruvananthapuram: The V D Satheesan-led Congress-UDF government took over in Kerala on Monday marking the return of Congress to power in the south Indian state after ten years.

The first meeting of the 21-member cabinet implemented a set of poll promises including free bus ride for women from June 15, formation of a new department for elderly people to implement facilities for them on the lines of what they have in Japan and increased remuneration for various sections like ASHA workers.

The maiden cabinet meeting also decided to conduct a re-investigation into the brutal assault of Youth Congress workers by police personnel in 2023 December at Alappuzha for waving black flag at the then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his cabinet colleagues.

Chief Minister V D Satheesan told reporters that the modalities of the free bus ride for women would be decided in the due course.

The department for elderly persons would be the first of its type in the country. It would initiate schemes on the lines of the elderly support and care facilities in Japan. "A key yardstick of a civilized society is the life of elderly people. By improving the quality of life of elderly people, Kerala should be able to showcase itself as a highly civilized society," he said.

The cabinet decided to hike remuneration to ASHA workers by Rs 3,000 hike and that of Anganwadi workers, helpers, cooking staff in school and preprimary school teachers by Rs. 1,000.

Free bus rides for women and a new department for elderly care were among the five 'Indira guarantees' given by the Congress-UDF during the elections. UDF had also earlier assured hike in remuneration to ASHA workers and other weaker sections.

Satheesan said that once the financial situations of the government improve, further hike would be given in the remunerations of the weaker sections as assured by the UDF earlier.

A white paper on the state's financial situation will be published and a detailed plan for improving the state's finances will be chalked out soon.

He said that the decision to order a re-investigation by a special team into the police assault of Youth Congress workers need not be interpreted as a vindictive action.

A local court in Alappuzha had earlier ordered a re-investigation. But the previous government did not act, he said.

Security personnel of the then chief minister had carried out the brutal assault that invited widespread criticism. But Vijayan tried to justify the police action stating that they tried to save the Youth Congress activists from being knocked down by his motorcade.

Youth Congress activist A D Thomas who had then suffered the assault won this election from Alappuzha.

The UDF government also decided to appoint Jaju Babu as advocate general and T S Asif Ali as director general of prosecution.