Exclusive: Health Minister Knows Our Demands Are Genuine, Says KP Rosamma, ASHAs’ Leader
For the past 41 days, a group of ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers has been staging a relentless protest in Thiruvananthapuram, demanding an increase in their honorarium and better working conditions.
The protest, led by S Mini, KP Rosamma and other ASHA leaders, has garnered attention from across India, as the workers battle for financial recognition and a voice in the healthcare system that they have served selflessly for years.
In an exclusive interview with Timeline, KP Rosamma, one of the prominent leaders of the ongoing ASHA workers’ protest in Kerala, spoke about the struggle for better wages and working conditions, the obstacles they face, and the government’s response.
Also, read| Centre Government On The Financial Benefits For ASHA Workers
She stated that on the fifth day of the ASHA workers’ protest, Veena George, Health Minister of Kerala. summoned a meeting to address their grievances. She knows our demands are genuine.
However, during the meeting, the minister explained the plight of the government, citing a lack of funds and resources to meet the demands of the ASHA workers.
The workers were told that the government was unable to fulfill their requests, with the minister visibly frustrated and helpless.
When one of the leaders, KP Rosamma, directly asked the minister, “How much could you give us?” she looked at her but did not respond.
Her silence spoke volumes about the limitations faced by the government, leaving the workers with little hope that their demands would be met, according to Rosamma.
On the 38th day of the protest, as the ASHA workers began their hunger strike, the health minister called for another meeting.
This time, however, the meeting again failed to address the demands. Instead of offering concrete solutions or even acknowledging the workers’ struggle, the minister only expressed her solidarity with the protesters, she said.
The workers, however, saw through this and understood that the minister was unable to bring any real change due to the opposition from the bureaucracy and unions.
Rosamma, speaking about the ongoing negotiations, pointed out that while the health minister might be willing to accept the ASHA workers’ demands, it was the labour unions affiliated with the ruling CPI(M) party, particularly CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions), that were obstructing any progress.
She accused CITU leaders of blocking the minister’s efforts to recognise the workers’ genuine demands.
According to her, CITU, with its significant influence, had created a political roadblock to the recognition and fair compensation of ASHA workers.
Rosamma and other ASHA leaders believe that the unions, in their attempt to retain control over the workers, have been instrumental in maintaining the status quo and denying ASHA workers what they truly deserve.
“It’s not just about us; we are not alone in this fight. Our supporters are people from all walks of life who believe in the basic rights of every worker,” said Rosamma.
Rosamma also highlighted the irony of the situation: “The government issued a retirement age of 62 for us, but how can we retire without any benefits? What about the future? Where do we go from here?”
Rosamma also added that this protest is not just against the Kerala government, but also against the broader political forces that have ignored their demands for far too long.
While the Kerala government has made some promises, such as ensuring that salaries will be credited on time, the ASHA workers are determined to push for their other demands.
They are now preparing for the next phase of their struggle. “The fight is far from over. We are going to take this protest to the next level,” said Rosamma.
The ASHA workers, who are the backbone of Kerala’s healthcare system, often work under challenging conditions, with no job security, minimal benefits, and meagre pay.
They are the first point of contact for many in rural and underserved areas, yet their contributions are often overlooked.
Their protest is a fight not only for themselves but for the recognition of the essential work that they do in the healthcare sector.
