An indefinite protest outside the Kerala Secretariat commenced by a section of Anganwadi workers demanding an increase in their minimum wages and post-retirement benefits. A fortnight after ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers had already been sitting in for more than 36 days, demanding better honorarium and retirement benefits, their protest is being launched.
Addressing reporters, the protesting Anganwadi workers mentioned that they were facing difficulties as their honorarium payments are irregular and often disbursed in parts. They also argue that the pensions of retired workers are withdrawn even when they serve more than 40 years despite withdrawing Rs 500 from their monthly wages towards post-pension benefits. They also alleged that most of them are forced to spend out of their pockets in order to meet the requirements of Anganwadi centres to further exhaust their finances.
The ASHA workers, however, intensified their agitation by laying siege to the Secretariat on Monday, with the workers blocking the main gate of the Secretariat till the evening. As part of the third phase of their protest, they have also announced that three of its leaders will begin an indefinite hunger strike from March 20.
The protesting workers said even after the state government recently issued an order to relax 10 criteria for getting honorarium, they would continue their stir unless their key demands — timely payments, pension, and honorarium hikes — are met.
This has deferred payments under various Centre-sponsored schemes, including for ASHA workers whose work is being financed by the Centre under the National Health Mission (NHM). However, both the Anganwadi and the ASHA workers resolved to continue their protest until they got a solution.
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