Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader and former Kerala minister Elamaram Kareem said that “anarchist organisations” were behind the ongoing strike by ASHA workers in the state capital. He raised the accusation through an article published in Deshabhimani, the mouthpiece of the CPI(M). Later speaking with the media, he continued demeaning the strike, calling it politically motivated.
Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) Health Workers Association in Kerala has been conducting a sit-in protest outside the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram since February 10. The protest is primarily against the three-month delay in receiving their honorarium and two month delay in their incentives. The protesters, who include ASHA workers from across the state, also demand a raise in the honorarium and retirement benefits.
In the Deshabhimani article, Kareem alleged that the protesting ASHA workers have been fed delusions by some persons. He compared the ongoing protest to Pembilai Orumai, who led a 2015 protest in Munnar against the Kannan-Devan Hills Plantations, demanding better wages and working conditions for its 4000-odd women employees.
Kareem wrote that Pembilai Orumai was “an attack on all labour organisations in the state.” “The ongoing strike is not for the welfare of ASHA workers. This is a politically motivated strike,” he added.
ASHA Health Workers Association member Mini told the media that what Kareem wrote in the article was not true. “He could have used the time to understand our issues, and do something to get us justice,” she said.
‘Union govt to be blamed’
Kareem shifted the blame for the delay in paying ASHA workers on to the Union government, stating that it has not provided the Rs 468 crore that was allocated to the state through the National Health Mission (NHM) fund.
“The Union government has the authority to give them the benefits. They do not even give the status of ‘workers’ to these people,” he said.
He emphasised that it was the Left front that increased the wages of ASHA workers, both during the government led by VS Achuthanandan and the first Pinarayi Vijayan government.
Meanwhile, CPI leader Annie Raja told the media that the demands raised by the ASHA workers are fair and the LDF government should conduct a discussion with the protesters. “Their demand is fair. They work in the health department and work for us. I would never stand with anyone who insults them,” Annie Raja said.
