A war of words erupted in the Rajya Sabha between Congress and CPI(M) MPs from Kerala over the strike by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) demanding a hike in honorarium and post-retirement benefits.
Participating in a discussion on the working of the Health Ministry, Congress MP Jebi Mather mentioned the ASHAs’ strike and alleged that neither the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front in Kerala nor the Union government were paying attention to their demands.
“Around 27,000 ASHAs have been on indefinite strike for the past 37 days on the steps of the (Kerala) Secretariat... Now they have announced an indefinite hunger strike from the day after tomorrow... Neither the government of Kerala nor the Centre has listened to their concerns,” she said.
Informing the House that ASHAs in Kerala get an honorarium of ₹7,000 per month, the Congress MP claimed that even this “meagre” amount is delayed. “Can a family survive on ₹233 a day,” she posed.
As soon as Ms. Mather concluded her speech, CPI(M) MP John Brittas raised a point of order and said Kerala provides the highest honorarium to ASHAs.
“Is it not a fact that Kerala gives the highest honorarium for ASHAs,” he asked rhetorically and accused the Congress of colluding with the BJP to corner the LDF government in Kerala.
“The Congress is hand in glove with the BJP in Kerala... Will they have the guts to take on the BJP,” the CPI(M) MP asked.
IUML MP Abdul Wahab, who stood up to speak next, also targeted the State government.
“These people start making points of order when we are telling the truth about the Kerala government. We don’t know who is right or wrong. Mr. Brittas is saying the Centre is responsible and we are saying both the Centre and the State are responsible,” he said.
Mr. Wahab also demanded that an AIIMS be set up in Kerala and sought an increase in MBBS seats in the country.
IUML is a part of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the State.
Several ASHAs have been protesting in front of the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram for over a month seeking post-retirement benefits and a hike in their honorarium. Raising similar demands, a section of Anganwadi workers also began an indefinite protest outside the Secretariat on Tuesday.
According to the CPI(M)-led LDF government, it has not received any cash grant from the Centre under the National Health Mission (NHM) for 2023-24 for payment towards various Centrally sponsored schemes, including for ASHAs.
The Union government, however, rejected the claim and contended that it has given what was due, but the utilisation certificate has not come from Kerala. It said once the certificate comes, the requisite amounts would be given to the ASHAs and the State.
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda had also announced in Parliament that the Mission Steering Group of NHM has decided to raise the incentives for ASHAs.
Published - March 18, 2025 09:04 pm IST
