ASHA Workers' Protest: Artists, Including K Satchidanandan, Stand In Solidarity, While Kerala Govt Claims Political Motive
Renowned writer and Sahitya Akademi Secretary, K Satchidanandan, along with a group of prominent cultural figures has issued a powerful statement in support of the ASHA workers who have been protesting in front of the Secretariat for the past 17 days.
They demand fair recognition for the tireless and invaluable contributions they make to Kerala’s healthcare system.
However, the Kerala government has responded by taking strict action against the protest, claiming that the actions of the ASHA workers are politically motivated.
The statement calls for immediate action from the Kerala government to resolve the issue and meet the workers’ demands, which include a hike in honorarium, payment of arrears, and other crucial benefits.
In their joint statement, the signatories, including well-known writers, social activists, and cultural workers express their deep concern over the injustices faced by the ASHA workers, who have been on the frontlines of public health, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Despite their pivotal role in disease prevention, health education, and outreach, ASHA workers are severely underpaid and continue to struggle for basic rights and benefits.
The artists and intellectuals have called for an immediate increase in the honorarium to Rs 21,000, payment of the three-month arrears owed to the workers, the withdrawal of the unilateral decision to raise the retirement age to 62, and a retirement benefit of Rs 5 lakh.
These demands, they argue, are just and fair for workers who are essential to the health sector but are left without proper recognition or compensation.
In the statement, the signatories also express their concern over the Kerala government’s response to the protests.
Instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue, health and finance ministers, along with certain CPM and CITU leaders, have resorted to ridicule, threats, and derogatory comments aimed at the protesting ASHA workers.
The statement condemns these actions as not only unprofessional but deeply disrespectful to the workers who serve society with utmost dedication.
The signatories also highlight the unfair argument being presented by some government representatives that the ASHA workers’ honorarium is a matter for the central government to address.
While it is true that the central government plays a significant role in determining the wages, the state government, they argue, has a responsibility to advocate for these workers and ensure that their demands are heard.
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The workers’ plea, the statement emphasises, must be directed at both the state and central governments to ensure a fair and just resolution.
Prominent signatories such as K Satchidanandan, KG Shankarapillai, Subhash Chandran, Unni R and many others, including filmmakers, poets, and social workers, have called for a swift resolution to the crisis. They have urged the Kerala government to immediately begin discussions with the ASHA workers and fulfil their legitimate demands.
Notable figures such as former editor R. Rajagopal, environmentalist Arun Rodrigues, and musician Sushmita Bose, along with various other cultural and social activists, have also joined the call for solidarity.
