Is CPM trying to suppress ASHA workers' stir in Kerala?

Thiruvananthapuram: The ruling CPM in Kerala is allegedly trying to suppress a stir by thousands of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA workers) by slapping police cases and making "insulting" remarks.

ASHA workers under the banner of ASHA Health Workers Association have been on an indefinite stir in front of the government secretariat over the last 17 days demanding an increase of their monthly remuneration to Rs 21,000, retirement benefit of Rs 5 lakh and other basic benefits.

ASHA workers, who are around 26,000 in numbers in Kerala, were much hailed as the foot soldiers of Kerala's health infrastructure and their role in resisting the Covid spread in Kerala was also widely appreciated.

CPM leaders including party state secretary M V Govindan and known trade union leader and former MP Elamaram Kareem have been strongly criticising and ridiculing the stir, especially since the pro-CPM forum of ASHA workers are not part of the stir. Kareem even said that some "insignificant and anarchist" outfits were behind the stir.

On Wednesday, police slapped a case against the agitating ASHA workers accusing them of blocking road. Social activist Joseph C Mathew, who was IT advisor to former Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, was also arraigned as he addressed the ASHA workers' stir.

Resentment towards the CPM's alleged attempts to suppress the stir was evident from the huge support the stir has been receiving from various quarters. Many social activists and celebrities are expressing solidarity with the ASHA workers considering their dedicated service to the health sector. Congress leaders, including Shashi Tharoor, also expressed solidarity with the agitators.

The state government is blaming the Centre for the "poor" remuneration of the ASHA workers citing that they are appointed as per the centrally sponsored National Health Mission.

At present, ASHA workers are paid honorarium of Rs 7000 per month. Along with incentives, the maximum remuneration comes to around Rs 13,000. ASHA workers lament that the remuneration was meagre considering their work load and hence, they demand a remuneration of Rs 21,000.

The CPM backed forum of ASHA workers earlier staged a protest raising these demands. But they ended the stir considering assurances from the CPM government that still remain on papers. The two-month honorarium dues to the workers were released by the government after the ongoing stir by the ASHA Health Workers Association began.