Thiruvananthapuram: The Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers in Kerala have urged a government-appointed committee to raise their honorarium, as part of a broader set of demands aimed at improving their working conditions.

The panel, formed to study issues faced by ASHA workers, has also received more than 80 proposals from various organisations addressing a wide range of demands related to wages, benefits, and work conditions.

Five organisations took part in a hearing held Monday at the Secretariat’s South Block, presenting a range of demands to the government-appointed committee reviewing the concerns of ASHA workers.

The Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association submitted 27 demands, while the INTUC presented eight. The CITU raised 21 demands, including calls for incentives, and the STU submitted 17.

The common demands across all groups included an increase in honorarium, along with retirement and insurance benefits.

The Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association has demanded an increase in the honorarium to Rs 21,000. The INTUC has demanded an increase in the honorarium to Rs 27,900 and that ASHAs be considered workers. CITU's main demands were that the Central and Kerala governments must increase the honorarium to Rs 15,000, allocate Rs 2,000 for the SHAILI app(State Health App initiative for Lifestyle Intervention Application for Asha Workers Kerala), and ensure free treatment for ASHAs in government hospitals. The AITUC has demanded that the current honorarium be increased to Rs 26,000, while the STU has demanded that it be increased to Rs 27,000.

Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association, Kerala State ASHA Workers Federation(CITU), All Kerala Pradesh ASHA Workers Congress (INTUC), ASHA Workers Federation (STU) and All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) attended the hearing.