ASHA workers have been protesting in front of the Secretariat for the past 21 days, demanding an increase in honorarium, retirement benefits, and improved service conditions. While the government has cleared some honorarium dues, no decision has been made on the other demands related to the centrally and state-funded scheme.

Meanwhile, the government has announced plans to appoint health workers in every district, seemingly in an attempt to replace the striking workers.

“The ASHAs work for the health department in the state. It is the state government that should increase their honorarium and implement retirement benefits. We have also staged protests in front of the Parliament against the Union government,” said Sadanandan.

The protest has garnered significant support across political, cultural, and medical circles. A group of prominent doctors signed a petition urging the government to address ASHA workers’ demands. Among the signatories were four government doctors.

However, Dr Brahmaputhran C K, one of the signatories, claimed that these doctors faced pressure to withdraw their support, allegedly directed from the top of the health department.