Denial of ASHAs’ rights undermines democratic values, says Bishop

Denying Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) their basic rights is an insult to Kerala’s democratic values, Mar Yuhanon Meletius, Metropolitan Bishop of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, has said.

He was speaking at a gathering held in front of the Thrissur Corporation office on Thursday to receive the day-night Statewide protest march led by M.A. Bindu, State general secretary of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association.

“To expect a woman in Kerala to survive on ₹232 a day is unacceptable. I cannot agree with any justification provided by the authorities for such a meagre wage,” the Bishop stated.

Pointed out contrast

He pointed out the contrast between the government’s financial support for Centre’s infrastructure projects like the Vizhinjam port and the low wages paid to frontline health workers. “Argument that it is the duty of the Centre to increase the wages is unacceptable. The State is investing hundreds of crores in Central projects like Vizhinjam and salaries of several government employees, including the PSC staff, have been revised. Yet these health workers continue to be ignored,” he said.

“To participate in such an agitation in my position is a huge challenge for me. However, I am participating in this with pride and happiness,” he said. As a token of support, the Bishop announced an honorarium of ₹1,000 per month for one year for 10 ASHAs and expressed hope that the government would revise their compensation before that period ends.

102 days

Social activist Kusumam Joseph, who addressed the gathering, said that ASHAs have been protesting for 102 days, demanding a daily wage of ₹700 and a retirement benefit of ₹5 lakh. “While these women march across the State and sleep on pavements, the government is celebrating its fourth anniversary with extravagance,” she said. “It is only when they took to the streets that many became aware of the fact that ASHAs had been working for just ₹232 per day, despite playing a vital role in public health. Authorities continue to deny their claims by insisting they are ‘volunteers’ rather than workers.”

The meeting was presided over by writer and social activist M.P. Surendran. A number of socio-political and cultural leaders also attended, expressing their solidarity with protesting ASHAs.