Thiruvananthapuram: A piece of ASHA workers in Kerala intensified their protest on Thursday, launching an indefinite hunger strike to press their calls for.This comes as state Well being Minister Veena George’s deliberate meeting with Union Well being Minister J P Nadda in Delhi didn’t happen.
Talking to reporters in Delhi, George mentioned a letter was despatched through the Kerala Home Resident Commissioner in search of an appointment with Nadda for Thursday, “however he was in all probability busy.”
“I’ve submitted two representations to his ministry. One other appointment has been sought. As and once we get it, I’ll meet him,” she mentioned.
George additionally said that she had beforehand met Nadda and raised the problem of ASHA workers’ incentives and honorarium, emphasising the necessity for a hike.
“He (Nadda) had assured a optimistic intervention within the matter,” she mentioned.
Whereas George was in Delhi making an attempt to safe a meeting, the Accredited Social Well being Activist (ASHA) workers, who’ve been protesting exterior the Secretariat for the previous 39 days, escalated their agitation, with three members happening an indefinite hunger strike.
The choice to launch the hunger strike got here after talks with the state authorities failed on Wednesday.
The indefinite strike started amid slogans towards the ruling Left authorities, with ASHA workers accusing it of “corruption” and “cruelty” in direction of them.
In the meantime, Congress-led UDF MLAs marched to the Secretariat to specific solidarity with the protesting ASHA workers.
They took out the march after boycotting the ministers’ reply speeches throughout discussions on the demand for grants within the Kerala Meeting, alleging repeated disruptions and insults from ruling members at any time when they spoke.
“The ASHA workers are on hunger strike, and their calls for are real. Sadly, the ruling get together, together with the ministers, has been insulting them,” Chief of Opposition within the state meeting V D Satheesan, who led the march, advised reporters.
Satheesan additionally mentioned he met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday and personally urged him to handle the ASHA workers’ calls for.
“His response was optimistic. Sadly, the discussions between the well being minister and ASHA workers failed yesterday. However the authorities ought to proceed the dialogue,” he mentioned.
He additionally criticised Nadda for not meeting George in Delhi.
“It’s his (Nadda) obligation to fulfill a state well being minister if they’ve sought an appointment. I condemn his perspective,” Satheesan mentioned.
A piece of ASHA workers has been protesting exterior the Secretariat since February 10, demanding submit-retirement advantages and a hike of their honorarium from the present Rs 7,000 to Rs 21,000.
In response to the Left authorities, it has not obtained any money grants from the central authorities below the Nationwide Well being Mission (NHM) for 2023-24 for funds towards varied Centre-sponsored schemes, together with ASHA workers’ incentives.
Nevertheless, the central authorities rejected the state’s declare, asserting that it had disbursed the required funds however had not obtained Kerala’s utilisation certificates.
It said that when the certificates is submitted, the required funds can be launched to ASHA workers and the state.
Nadda had additionally introduced in Parliament that the Mission Steering Group of the NHM had determined to extend ASHA workers’ incentives.
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