2 weeks ago
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Former Finance Minister says portion the workers had demanded a rise successful monthly honorarium from ₹9,000 to ₹21,000, the hike was lone to the effect of ₹3,000
Hours aft the caller United Democratic Front (UDF) authorities successful Kerala announced a ₹3,000 summation successful the honorarium of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), erstwhile Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal connected Monday criticised the move, saying it fell abbreviated of the promises made by the Congress-led beforehand during the Assembly predetermination campaign.
In a Facebook post, Mr. Balagopal, a CPI(M) MLA, said the UDF had assured ASHAs that their demands would beryllium addressed successful the precise archetypal Cabinet gathering if the confederation came to power.
The workers had staged a months-long protestation successful beforehand of the Secretariat during the erstwhile LDF government, demanding that their monthly honorarium beryllium raised to ₹21,000 and that a status payment of ₹5 lakh beryllium introduced.
“However, aft assuming power, the enactment taken by him turned retired to beryllium a immense disappointment. Only a hike of ₹3,000 has been announced,” the Kottarakara MLA wrote, referring to Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.
Defending LDF
The erstwhile Minister besides defended the grounds of the erstwhile Left authorities led by Pinarayi Vijayan, saying it had accrued the honorarium of ASHA workers successful phases implicit the years.
According to him, astatine the clip of the archetypal Pinarayi Vijayan government, the monthly honorarium of ASHAs was ₹1,000, which was raised to ₹9,000 by the clip the 2nd LDF authorities nether him completed its term.
Mr. Balagopal further claimed that the Left authorities had besides accrued benefits for Anganwadi workers, pre-primary staff, schoolhouse cooking workers and Literacy Mission workers.
