By Our Correspondent
Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in Kerala brought their continuous 266-day protest to a close on Saturday. This remarkable demonstration, demanding better pay and retirement benefits, has emerged as one of the longest-running agitations by women workers in the state, standing as an enduring symbol of their resilience and unwavering commitment.
With a ceremonial dismantling of their protest camp, the ASHA workers departed from the Secretariat gate, a site they had occupied for months. They reaffirmed their commitment to continue their fight for a minimum daily wage of ₹700. Their activism will now shift to the district level, with plans to actively campaign for their demands during the upcoming local body elections.
Addressing the concluding rally, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan praised the movement as a “magnificent victory for women’s empowerment.” He expressed confidence that their efforts would ultimately succeed, promising that if the UDF forms the government in 2026, decisions regarding ASHA workers’ demands would be a top priority in their very first Cabinet meeting.
Organized under the banner of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association, the core demands of the protest included increasing their honorarium to ₹21,000, providing a one-time retirement benefit of ₹5 lakh, and removing all restrictive conditions tied to their honorarium.
The protest, which commenced on February 10, saw these dedicated women endure relentless pouring rains and scorching heat, consistently reorganizing and regrouping to maintain their strike.
While their primary demands are yet to be fully met, this 266-day struggle has yielded significant ancillary victories. It successfully elevated the ASHA workers’ strike to national and international prominence, drawing attention in both Houses of Parliament due to the extraordinary perseverance of these women.
Notably, following the widespread attention on the Kerala protest, the Central Government announced increased incentives and other benefits for ASHA workers nationwide. This is considered a direct and substantial achievement of their prolonged agitation.
On Saturday, the ASHAs reiterated their vow to continue their advocacy until justice is fully served. They plan to reconvene before the Secretariat on February 10 next year, marking the first anniversary of their unprecedented protest.