Thu Feb 27 15:52:11 UTC 2025: ## Kerala ASHAs Continue Protest Despite State’s Backlog Payment

**Thiruvananthapuram, February 27, 2025** – Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in Kerala continued their 18-day protest on Thursday, demanding a significant increase in their honorarium and retirement benefits. While the state government released all outstanding payments, the dispute remains unresolved, with the Health Minister, Veena George, stating the issue falls under the purview of the central government.

The protest, led by the ASHA Health Workers’ Association and the CITU-led ASHA Workers’ Federation, has seen differing approaches. The CITU faction criticized their counterparts for what they see as turning against the state government, asserting the central government is responsible for the inadequate compensation.

The ASHAs are demanding an increase in their monthly honorarium from ₹7,000 to ₹21,000 and retirement benefits of ₹5 lakh. Minister George countered that this demand is unrealistic and that the state has already been increasing honorariums, while the central government hasn’t revised the incentive structure since the scheme’s inception. She also claimed that only a small fraction (around 7%, or 2,000) of the state’s 26,125 ASHAs are actively participating in the strike, with no significant disruption to health services. She cited National Health Mission data indicating 89% of ASHAs receive ₹10,000-₹13,500.

The Minister further highlighted the state’s financial burden, noting that the central government hadn’t even provided its share of incentive payments (around ₹100 crore) for 2023-24, a burden the state absorbed. Senior NHM officials expressed concerns that meeting the ASHA demands could set a precedent for similar requests from other worker groups.

BJP leader V. Muraleedharan, however, argued that the state government has the authority to reclassify ASHAs as regular employees with appropriate salaries and benefits. The ASHAs remain determined to continue their protest until their demands are met.

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