State will raise wages of ASHA workers if Centre chips in: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

LDF constituents CPI and RJD urge chief minister to resolve issue through dialogue

Former KSDMA member and activist K G Thara hugs ASHA workers who are on a hunger strike after inaugurating their protest in front of the Secretariat on Thursday. (Photo | Vincent Pulickal)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has told the LDF leadership that though the state government has financial constraints, it is ready to increase the honorarium for ASHA workers if the Union government increases the incentive.

He told the LDF meeting held at AKG Centre on Thursday that the programme is a Centre-state joint project and the state government has sent Health Minister Veena George to New Delhi for holding talks with Centre.

In the meeting, the CPI and RJD asked the chief minister to resolve ASHA workers issue through dialogue. The issue was first raised by Varghese George of RJD in the meeting which met to finalise the LDF government’s fourth-year celebrations.

Varghese reminded the LDF leadership that the front has progressed through protests for the rights of the people. “The government must initiate a dialogue with the ASHA workers and consider their demands,” he said.

CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam supported the demand of the RJD representative and also asked the CM to initiate steps for a dialogue with the ASHA workers.

Earlier, the CPI Executive held at MN Smarakam on the same day, raised its concern over the continuing protest of ASHA workers.

Members pointed out that though the government is unable to consider the demand to raise the honorarium because of economic constraints, the protesters’ demands are genuine.

“SUCI which is supporting the protest might be trying to take a political advantage out of the issue. However, the media and opposition are supporting them. Since the media considers SUCI as a Left organisation they are supporting the former against the government. The issues raised by the protesters could not be resolved easily. However, it does not mean that the government could ignore the issue,” some leaders reportedly said.

Meanwhile, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam told the meeting that since it is an issue of labourers, the AITUC has been asked to look into it. He said he had personally requested the chief minister to resolve the issue.