Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced a series of welfare measures for various sections of workers in the state, including an increase in the monthly honorarium of ASHA workers and a hike in the support price for rubber.

The monthly honorarium of ASHA workers will be increased by ₹1,000, benefiting 26,125 workers across Kerala. The move will entail an additional annual expenditure of ₹250 crore. The Chief Minister also assured that all pending arrears of ASHA workers will be cleared soon. The announcement comes in the wake of their long-standing agitation demanding a pay hike.

Other Key Announcements

  • A 4% hike in DA/DR (Dearness Allowance/Dearness Relief) will be sanctioned for state government employees, teachers, and pensioners. This will be disbursed along with the November salary.
  • The third and fourth installments of the 11th Pay Revision arrears will be released within the current financial year.
  • The monthly honorarium of Anganwadi workers and helpers will be increased by ₹1,000 each, benefiting 65,240 individuals, with an additional annual cost of ₹934 crore.
  • Saksharatha Preraks (literacy motivators) will also receive a ₹1,000 increase in their monthly honorarium, at an annual cost of ₹5.5 crore, and all their arrears will be cleared.
  • The daily wage of 13,327 school cooks will be raised by ₹50.
  • The monthly salary of pre-primary teachers and ayahs will be increased by ₹1,000.
  • The monthly salary of guest lecturers will be raised by up to ₹2,000.
  • The support price for rubber will be increased from ₹180 to ₹200 per kg.
  • The procurement price of paddy will be raised from ₹28.20 to ₹30 per kg.

The Chief Minister announced that all these measures will come into effect from November 1, and that the concerned departments have been directed to take immediate steps to ensure their implementation.