MB Rajesh interview: Union govt should recognise ASHA workers as employees

One of our gram panchayats in Thiruvananthapuram district, Pullampara, initiated a total digital literacy campaign that became a big success. We realised Kerala had the potential to become the first digitally literate state in the country, so we decided to adopt the Pullampara model statewide.

We developed a methodology and asked the Kerala Institute of Local Administration to create a training module. They trained master trainers, trainers, and volunteers. We then conducted an extensive survey to identify those who were not digitally literate, and volunteers were sent to train them using the module.

Out of 21.87 lakh digitally illiterate individuals, they were literate otherwise but lacked digital skills, and in the initial phase, over 60% passed the evaluation test. A second phase of the campaign increased this to over 90%. Finally, with the third phase, 99% of those identified as digitally illiterate were able to pass the test. An independent evaluation by the Economics and Statistics Department confirmed that the percentage of digital literacy in Kerala has now surpassed 99%.

After the Brahmapuram fire in 2023, we launched an aggressive campaign, ‘Malinya Mukta Nava Keralam’ (Waste-free New Kerala). Over the past two years, we have achieved 90% door-to-door waste collection and developed a robust system to manage non-biodegradable waste. The Haritha Karma Sena collects waste from each household and stores it in over 20,000 Mini Material Collection Facilities (Mini MCFs). Out of 1,034 local bodies, 1,019 have MCFs, many of which are automated with conveyor belts, shredders, and bailing machines.

At the next level, we have resource recovery facilities for secondary segregation, and their numbers have doubled in the last two years. We have also set up Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) plants and plastic recycling plants in both the public and private sectors.

It is true that  once waste collected by some private agencies was found dumped outside the state in Tirunelveli, but we identified and blacklisted those agencies. Clean Kerala Company, our public sector undertaking, collected 66,166 tons of waste in 2024-25, double the volume from the previous year.

For bio-waste, we continue to prioritise source-level treatment, but with urbanisation, we also need centralised facilities. In Brahmapuram, we have set up a 100-crore plant that can treat 150 tons of bio-waste and produce compost and biogas. Similar plants are being set up in Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Kollam, Changanassery, Thrissur, and Palakkad. Within two years, we have established a fairly robust system for managing both bio and non-bio waste.

After two-level segregation, non-recyclable plastic is sent to cement factories for use as fuel, while recyclable plastic is sent to recycling facilities.

Kerala is not alone in facing this crisis; it is a nationwide issue. The Union government's stringent Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules make it impractical to set up enough centres, as they require air-conditioned operation theatres, refrigeration, CCTV, and experienced doctors who have completed at least 2,000 surgeries.

We have repeatedly demanded the relaxation of these rules to facilitate setting up ABC centres. Additionally, under these rules, even aggressive stray dogs cannot be put down. While I am not in favour of killing stray dogs, the system leaves us with limited options. There is an incident where a single dog attacked 56 people in Kannur. Kudumbashree had successfully set up around 900 ABC centres, but court rulings based on ABC rules stopped their operations. This is a systemic challenge we are working within.

Within the severe constraints imposed by the ABC rules, our options are limited, but we are still setting up ABC centres wherever possible. However, being a densely populated state, there is public resistance to having such centres in their neighbourhoods. Despite these limitations, we are working hard to address the issue.

The Left has always supported ASHA workers. The Kerala government pays the highest honorarium in the country—Rs 7,000 as honorarium and Rs 1,200 as a fixed incentive. The Union government’s contribution is only Rs 1,800 out of the total assured income of Rs 10,000.

A very small minority, around 1% of ASHA workers, have been misguided by politically motivated elements, and the current agitation is driven by political intentions rather than genuine concerns.

These claims are incorrect. A recent reply in the Rajya Sabha stated that Sikkim pays Rs 6,000, and Puducherry pays even less, while Kerala pays the highest in the country. The core issue is the Union government’s refusal to recognise ASHA workers as health workers, despite repeated demands and even Supreme Court and High Court directives. The agitation should be directed at the Union government to accept ASHA workers as employees so they can receive salaries and benefits like ESI, PF, and gratuity.

The high standards in Kerala are possible because we pay more. We provide the highest honorarium to ASHA and Anganwadi workers in the country. However, the Union government needs to accept all scheme workers as employees and provide the benefits they deserve. In 2013, the Indian Labour Conference unanimously adopted a resolution demanding that all scheme workers be recognised as health workers or employees. However, the UPA government did not act on this demand. In 2014, the Modi government came to power, and again in 2015, the Indian Labour Conference unanimously demanded that ASHA workers and all scheme workers be given employee status. Yet, the Modi government has not implemented this.

The Gujarat High Court has issued an order asking the government to consider these workers as employees. The Supreme Court has also directed the government to provide them with benefits such as gratuity and ESI. Why is the BJP-led Union government not acting on these directives? 

Our demand is clear: the Union government should accept ASHA workers as health workers rather than categorising them as volunteers. If recognised as health workers, they would be entitled to salaries and full employment benefits instead of just an honorarium.

The Opposition’s stance is exposed here. By ignoring the demand to recognise ASHA workers as health workers and instead focusing protests against the state, they are betraying the core demands of ASHA workers and helping the Union government evade its responsibility.

This is a misplaced allegation. Synthetic drugs mainly come from outside Kerala, particularly from Bengaluru and Goa. Despite limitations, investigators have coordinated with other agencies, leading to major busts, including arrests in Hyderabad and drug seizures in Andaman and Nicobar worth Rs 150 crore.

Kerala has the highest conviction rate in the country at 98.19%, compared to the national average of 78% and 25% in states like Telangana. The high number of cases in Kerala reflects the strength of our enforcement, not a failure.

We have repeatedly demanded that the definition of commercial quantity under the NDPS Act be redefined, but the Union government has not responded. It is essential for them to amend the Act to reflect ground realities.