Kochi, Oct 24 The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has directed the Finance Department to take an early decision on recommendations submitted by the Health Department regarding benefits for ASHA workers, if no decision has been taken so far, and inform the latter in writing.
ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers are trained female community health volunteers who serve as a link between communities and the public health system in Keralam.
Commission chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas also directed the Health Department to implement the recommendations once it receives the Finance Department’s decision, in line with an assurance given by the Health Department’s Additional Chief Secretary.
The recommendations were submitted to the Finance Department by a committee constituted as per a government order dated May 12, 2025.
The recommendations include requesting the Centre to provide insurance coverage for the family members of ASHA workers and extending to them the treatment benefits available to patients from below poverty line (BPL) families in hospitals.
The committee also recommended that ASHA workers be provided free medical services, including outpatient (OP) tickets, when they seek treatment at their parent institutions.
It further recommended extending the leave available to ASHA workers by two months in cases of unavoidable circumstances, including illness and medical treatment.
They are currently entitled to one month’s leave, according to the commission’s order.
The directions were issued to the Additional Chief Secretaries of the Finance and Health departments following complaints filed by public activists P P Jayadev and Franklin Gomes.
The ASHA workers had staged a months-long protest in front of the Secretariat during the previous Left government, demanding that their monthly honorarium be raised to Rs 21,000 and that a retirement benefit of Rs 5 lakh be introduced.
UDF, after coming to power, in its maiden cabinet meeting announced a Rs 3,000 increase to Rs 12,000 in the honorarium of ASHA workers.
(PTI News)
