Thiruvananthapuram, February 26 – The ongoing protest by a section of ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers in Kerala has turned into a political battleground, with the Congress stepping in to lead the agitation against the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.
For the past two weeks, ASHA workers have been staging protests outside the Kerala Secretariat, demanding an increase in honorarium and additional benefits. However, tensions heightened after the state government issued a circular warning workers to return to their duties or face replacement.
Reacting to this, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) General Secretary (Organisation) M Liju announced a series of intensified protests. On Thursday, under the leadership of all Mandalam Congress Committees, Congress workers will burn copies of the government circular outside Panchayat offices. Mahila Congress members will also join the demonstrations.
Further escalating the protest, March 3 will witness massive marches towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram and district Collectorates, led by District Congress Committees (DCCs).
The CPI(M) had earlier alleged that the ASHA protest was influenced by anarchic elements, a claim Congress strongly refutes. The opposition party accused the LDF government of attempting to replace the protesting ASHA workers with CPI(M) sympathizers instead of addressing their legitimate grievances.
"The government has approved salary hikes for Public Service Commission (PSC) members, government lawyers, and even increased the annual travel allowance for Kerala’s representative in Delhi. Yet, it refuses to acknowledge the ASHA workers’ plight," Congress stated. The party also questioned how a family could survive on a mere ₹7,000 monthly honorarium, given the rising cost of living.
Rather than engaging in dialogue or finding a fair solution, the government has chosen to issue "threatening" circulars, Congress alleged. "This approach is nothing but an attempt to humiliate and suppress ASHA workers' voices," the party stated, adding that it would oppose such moves at any cost.
Expressing solidarity, Congress had already staged torchlight protests across Kerala on February 24, led by Mandalam Congress Committees. Senior Congress leaders, including KPCC President K Sudhakaran and Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, have also visited the protest site, reaffirming their commitment to the ASHA workers' cause.
Meanwhile, the CPI(M) maintains that ASHA workers, being volunteers rather than formal employees, do not qualify for minimum wages or salary benefits. The party argues that the state can only provide salaries to those recruited through official government procedures, such as the PSC or Employment Exchange.
With the Congress now fully backing the agitation, the ASHA workers’ protest is poised to intensify, setting the stage for a major political confrontation in Kerala.
