Kerala Assembly building
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The issue of the agitation by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) for adequate remuneration and the government’s manner of handling the protests rocked the Kerala Assembly on Tuesday (March 4) with the Opposition UDF raising the same as an adjournment motion.
Heated war of words ensued between UDF MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who presented the adjournment motion, and Health Minister Veena George. Mr. Mamkootathil said the CPI(M) and the CITU who were “supposed to protect workers’ rights were trying their best to derail” the agitation of ASHAs for fair wages.
“If the Centre was not giving the State its share of funds, why did the government hike the salary and travel allowance of its special envoy, K.V. Thomas, who has failed to lobby with the Centre and secure the State its due?” he asked.
Minister’s response
Ms. George reiterated her argument that Kerala was paying the highest honorarium to ASHAs and that nearly 90% of the ASHAs earned an income between ₹10,000-₹13,000 a month out of which, ₹9,400 was the State’s contribution.
She claimed that of the 26,125 ASHAs, 729 were people’s representatives at various levels, and 1,230 were engaged in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Generation Scheme (MGNREG) alongside their work. She said that while the Centre was withdrawing from its obligation towards ASHAs, it was the State government which was ensuring their welfare.
Following this, Speaker A.N. Shamseer denied leave for the adjournment motion. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, who rose to give his walk-out speech, was continuously disrupted by the members of the ruling front.
Mr. Satheesan said that “the long list of figures” presented by Ms. George to justify the government stand regarding ASHAs’ strike was “cleverly manipulated” and that it was the total funds for the National Health Mission (and not specifically the incentive of ASHAs) which was shared in the 60-40 ratio by Centre and the State. He said that out of the ₹913 crore that the Centre had to give the State in 2024-25, ₹813 crore was released on January 25.
He challenged Ms. George to reveal if the State had been scrupulous in fulfilling its obligation to release the State share to NHM all these years.
He berated the ruling front for trying to “denounce ASHAs’ strike when they themselves had the history of leading several agitations.”
“None should be dismissive of the demands of ASHAs and the government should not pretend to overlook the 12-14 hours of work ASHAs put in daily, he said.
He demanded that the Chief Minister take the lead in calling ASHAs for a discussion and to settle their demands.
Amidst the ruckus led by the ruling front MLAs during his speech, the Opposition Leader took exception to the Speaker’s repeated attempts to hurry him on and conclude his speech.
Mr. Shamseer, however, maintained that the Opposition Leader had exceeded his time limit and that his walk-out speech “effectively ended” when he asked the Chief Minister to intervene. Mr. Satheesan retorted that it was not up to the Speaker to decide that.
Mr. Shamseer then directed that Mr. Satheesan’s microphone be switched off and moved on to the next business of the House without allowing Mr. Satheesan to conclude his speech.
Pandemonium followed, with the Opposition moving to the well of the House and protesting loudly, following which the Speaker hurried through the rest of the business and dispersed the House.
Published – March 04, 2025 02:28 pm IST
