'I stand with them': Arundhati Roy on Kerala's protesting ASHA workers
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Thiruvananthapuram: Over the ongoing protest by ASHA workers here in Kerala, which has been a burning issue for the past few weeks, writer and activist Arundhati Roy extended her support on Thursday. The renowned Booker Prize laureate proclaimed her support for intense statewide protests ASHA workers planned for International Women’s Day.
In a press release, Roy said, “Today, as governments all over the world swing to the far right… I hope that in my Kerala the people as well as the government will support the demand of the ASHA workers. I stand with them.”
She said, “Let’s show the world that we are different. That we listen and care for the most vulnerable workers down to the last woman.”
Organised by the ASHA Health Workers Association, thousands of ASHA workers in Kerala have been on an indefinite strike in front of the state's Secretariat for the past 25 days. They demand a raise in their monthly remuneration from Rs 7,000 to Rs 21,000. Further, they wanted retirement benefits of Rs 5 lakh, along with other essential allowances. Currently, with additional incentives, their monthly earnings do not exceed Rs 13,000, which is so pathetic when compared to their counterparts in Karnataka or Telangana.
They have decided to intensify their protest on Women's Day.
In the meantime, the Centre and state are in a blaming game over funds to pay ASHA workers.
