THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid controversy over Health Minister Veena George’s Delhi trip, the meeting with Union Health Minister J P Nadda is likely to happen next week. The Union minister announced his availability for the meeting, in Delhi. The state minister had sought an appointment with the Union minister to discuss various issues including the ASHA workers’ issue.
The controversy surrounding the unsuccessful attempt by Veena George to meet Union health minister continued to stir debate even after her return to the state on Friday morning. Veena George blamed certain media outlets for spreading misinformation about the purpose of her visit to Delhi.
“I never disclosed my intentions about the Delhi trip to anyone. What I mentioned was that I would meet the Union minister within a week. In Delhi, I told the media that if I couldn’t secure an appointment that day, I would arrange a meeting on another suitable day,” said Veena George.
She further defended her actions, explaining, “There was nothing wrong in trying to meet the Union minister during my trip, especially when ASHA workers are on strike.” This comment was in response to allegations that she had gone to Delhi to meet representatives of the Cuban government.
Meanwhile, the hunger strike by the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association entered its second day, although they chose to stay out of the ongoing controversy.
“The minister knows best about arranging meetings with the Union minister. Let there be discussions. Our focus is on finding a solution to our demands. We have made basic requests that the state government can easily implement,” said M A Bindu, general secretary of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association.
Representatives from the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association, including Bindu, state committee member R Sheeja, and Thiruvananthapuram district committee member Thankamani are participating in the hunger strike.
Sheeja became unwell and the police shifted her to the General Hospital on Friday evening. Former Union minister V Muraleedharan, Kerala Latin Catholic Women’s Association representative Jain Ansil Francis, Mahila Congress state vice-president R Lakshmi, and Secretariat action council convener M S Irshad visited the protesters.
In another development, ASHA Workers Federation, affiliated to CITU, also launched a protest against the Central Government, demanding that ASHA workers be recognised as regular employees, with their honorarium raised to `26,000. Fedeartion general secretary P P Prema said protest marches towards Central government offices were held at 15 locations in the state.
