State, Union Health Minister's meeting Clears Path for Talks with ASHA Workers

Thiruvananthapuram: Amid the ongoing protest by ASHA workers demanding an increase in their honorarium from the state government, Kerala's Health Minister Veena George met Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Tuesday, paving the way for renewed discussions with the protesting workers.

A day after a section of ASHA workers protesting outside the Secretariat here for 51 days intensified their agitation with several of them cutting their hair, state Health Minister Veena George on Tuesday reached Delhi to discuss their issue, among others, with Union Health Minister JP Nadda.

Speaking to the media soon after meeting Nadda, George said the meeting was positive.

"I had raised the demands of the protesting Asha workers first, and he heard it. The Centre gives 60 per cent of the incentive while the state puts in 40 per cent of the total Rs 3,000, while the entire honorarium (Rs 7,000) is paid by the state. We have been demanding an increase in the incentive, and the Minister said the Centre is seriously looking into it," she said, news agency IANS reported.

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According to the PTI report, on Monday, the protestors marked a new phase in their campaign demanding post retirement benefit and increase in their honorarium, by cutting their hair and some even shaving their heads in an emotional gesture of defiance against the state government's alleged "indifference" to their demands.

On Tuesday, a few Congress workers followed the example of the ASHA workers and shaved their heads in a show of support for them.

Meanwhile, State Excise Minister M B Rajesh said that those leading the protest do not want to resolve the issue.

"The government alone wishing for an end to the issue is not enough as those leading the protest do not want to see it end. This is not a protest to resolve the problems of ASHA workers. It is politically motivated.

"Those leading the agitation have a political agenda and are misleading a group of ASHA workers," he told reporters.

He also pointed out that the protestors have no demands against the Centre and were blaming only the state government, and asked, "If that is not politically motivated, then what is?"

Also Read:Kerala Health Minister supports ASHA worker payments, urges Centre to release dues