Kerala ASHAs demand better pay through hunger strike

Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) in Kerala held a mass hunger strike on Monday. This action was in support of their colleagues who have been on an indefinite hunger strike outside the Secretariat for five days. The ASHAs have been demanding better pay for 42 days. Many civil society members, political parties, and voluntary organizations joined them in this protest. A spokesperson for the Kerala ASHA Health Workers’ Association (KAHWA) stated that ASHAs across the state fasted individually or in groups to show solidarity with the women on hunger strike. The Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad (KSSP) released a statement urging both the central and state governments to address the ASHAs' concerns. They emphasized the important role ASHAs play in public health. KSSP highlighted that these workers deserve better compensation for their critical contributions to healthcare.