ASHA protest: Kerala govt sets up panel to study demands; workers dismiss it as eyewash tactic

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has constituted a five-member high-level committee to study the demands of protesting ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers. The panel is to be chaired by Haritha V Kumar, Director of the Women and Child Development Department.

The decision to form the committee followed a meeting held last month by the Health Minister, which included representatives from various trade unions. The minister had assured that the government would take a clear decision on the workers’ retirement benefits, service period and honorarium after receiving the committee’s report.

Although the formation of the committee was accepted by trade unions such as CITU, INTUC and BSF, the protesting ASHA workers have rejected the move outright.

Panel structure and responsibilities

The panel will be headed by Haritha V Kumar, with R Subhash, Additional Secretary of the Health Department, acting as convenor. Other members include a senior official nominated by the Finance Department, another from the Labour Department, and K M Beena, a representative of the Social Development and National Health Mission.

The committee has been tasked with reviewing key issues such as recruitment processes, eligibility norms, honorarium, service period, and leave entitlements. It has been given three months to submit its report. The government has stated that any actionable recommendations will be implemented.

Protesting workers reject panel formation

The protesting ASHA workers expressed strong disappointment with the government’s announcement. “We have no expectations from this so-called high-level panel,” they said, alleging that the move is intended to mislead the public amid growing support for their agitation.

The workers reiterated their intention to continue the protest until their long-standing demands are fulfilled.

Critics term move as a delaying tactic

Critics of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government have accused it of stalling concrete action. They questioned whether the government is still unaware of the issue and described the formation of the panel as a strategy to delay decisions on consistently raised demands.