The ongoing indefinite strike by ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers in Kerala was raised in the Lok Sabha on Monday, with MPs from the state demanding better wages and job security for the frontline health workers. Congress leaders KC Venugopal, Shashi Tharoor, and VK Sreekandan voiced their concerns during Zero Hour, urging immediate government intervention.
Highlighting the plight of ASHA workers, Tharoor said, “Despite working 12-14 hours a day, they are still classified as volunteers and receive only meagre honorariums. In Kerala, they earn just ₹7,000 per month, and even this is not paid on time. There is a systemic undervaluation of community health workers. Is their struggle being ignored just because they are women?”
KC Venugopal further pointed out that ASHA workers are entitled to a daily wage of ₹233, but the Kerala government has failed to pay them in full. "The central and state governments are blaming each other. Who is responsible for this? ASHA workers’ monthly salary should be fixed at ₹21,000, and they should receive retirement benefits. They have been protesting for over 30 days. These are the real health warriors of society," he said.
Venugopal also reminded the House that it was the UPA government that introduced the ASHA worker scheme in 2005. “States like Telangana, Karnataka, and Sikkim have increased their salaries. However, ASHA workers in Kerala are left with no financial security upon retirement. The Union Health Minister must respond to this crisis immediately.”
