Tue Apr 15 08:00:39 UTC 2025: ## Kerala ASHA Workers Continue Protest Despite Government Talks

**Thiruvananthapuram, April 15, 2025** – Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers in Kerala are continuing their 65-day protest outside the state secretariat, demanding a significant increase in their honorarium and retirement benefits. Despite five rounds of talks with the state government, the workers, represented by the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association (KAHWA), remain steadfast in their demands.

The ASHA workers are seeking a raise from ₹7,000 to ₹21,000 per month and a ₹5 lakh retirement benefit. While the government claims to have engaged in multiple discussions and implemented measures to improve working conditions, KAHWA State vice president S. Mini alleges that the government’s offer to form a committee to examine their demands was merely a tactic to end the protest. She asserts that the government unilaterally withdrew from the most recent round of talks on April 3rd, rejecting a compromise proposal for an interim ₹3,000 honorarium increase and a commitment to the ₹5 lakh retirement benefit.

The protest, which includes a 27-day relay hunger strike, shows no signs of abating. Ms. Mini emphasized that the workers will continue their agitation until their demands are met. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, while acknowledging the talks, maintains that only a small fraction of ASHA workers are participating in the protest and that the government is committed to assisting them. The standoff continues, highlighting the ongoing struggle for better wages and working conditions for these essential healthcare workers.

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