Kerala ASHA Workers Cut Hair As Protest Enters 50th Day (IMAGE:x.com/TheIndiaForum)

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: To mark 50th day of their protest against the state government, ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) workers had intensified their stance by cutting their hair – a symbolic act of protest in their fight for their demands.

Many of the ASHA workers were seen in tears when they approached the Kerala secretariat. Before cutting their hair, the women left their hair and walked down to the state secretariat and reached the protest site.

Also Read | Exclusive: Health Minister Knows Our Demands Are Genuine, Says KP Rosamma, ASHAs’ Leader

As state representatives of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association cut they their hair in front of the secretariat, they raised slogans holding their cut off hair, creating an emotionally intense atmosphere. In solidarity, similar acts were conducts across different parts of the state.

Meanwhile, two ASHA workers, Padmajam and Beena, tonsured their heads. “It’s like ripping apart a piece of our heart. At least this could open the eyes of those in power. How are we supposed to live like this?,” Padmajam, who shaved the head told Onmanorama, while broke down.

The ASHA Health Workers Association has been staging an indefinite strike in front of the government secretariat since February 10.  Meanwhile, their indefinite hunger strike is set to enter its 12th day on Monday.

Their primary demands include raising their monthly remuneration from ₹7,000 to ₹21,000, retirement benefits of ₹5 lakh, and other essential allowances. Currently, with incentives, their earnings do not exceed ₹13,000—a stark contrast to their counterparts in Karnataka and Telangana, who receive significantly better wages.

Also Read |Priyanka Gandhi’s Solidarity For Protesting ASHA Workers

The protesting workers have received widespread support from medical, political, and cultural spheres. Even though government has conducted several rounds of discussions, no solution has been reached yet as their major demands have not been met.