LDF urges ASHAs, anganwadi workers in Kerala not to fall prey to ‘anti-government conspiracy’

LDF convener T.P. Ramakrishnan says ASHAs and anganwadi workers should join forces with LDF and strengthen the hands of Kerala government which is at the forefront of national struggle to force Centre to cede to justifiable demands

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) State committee on Friday (March 21, 2025) urged the striking ASHA workers “not to fall prey to the entrenched political conspiracy” to wrongfully scapegoat the Kerala government for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government’s “stubborn refusal” to recognise the labour rights of scheme workers, including anganwadi and mid-day meal employees and MNREGS beneficiaries.

Simultaneously, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) mobilised its sizeable number of ASHAs and anganwadi cadres to redirect the protests against the Centre by organising sit-ins in front of federal offices, including post offices and the Accountant General’s Office, in Thiruvananthapuram.

The CITU has blamed the Centre for washing its hands off scheme workers, including ASHAs, by refusing to reimburse them for the honorarium disbursed to them by the State government, an estimated ₹100 crore.

Addressing a press conference here, LDF convener T.P. Ramakrishnan said the Kerala government supported the demand of Central trade unions, independent sectoral federations, and associations to recognise the unorganised labour sector as workers so they could avail themselves of labour benefits, including justifiable salaries and other service benefits.

Mr. Ramakrishnan asked the striking ASHAs and anganwadi workers not to be led astray by “forces inimical” to the LDF government, including the right-wing media, and to join the national general strike called by various trade unions, except the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), on May 20.

“The LDF government has supported the strike. ASHAs and anganwadi workers should join forces with the LDF and strengthen the hands of the State government, which is at the forefront of the national struggle to force the Central government to cede to the justifiable demand of scheme workers”, he added. 

Mr. Ramakrishnan said only a fraction of the 24,000 ASHAs and 64,000 anganwadi workers were on strike before the Secretariat. “However, the right-wing media and their political handlers have given the strike outsize coverage to cast the government in a poor light,” he said.

Nevertheless, he said, “the propaganda” would not diminish the LDF’s public approval nor narrow its path to victory for a third consecutive term in the 2026 Assembly elections.

He accused the Central government of withholding ASHAs’ honorarium. “Nevertheless, the State paid them and cleared the wage backlog of anganwadi workers,” he said.

NHM slammed

He said the National Health Mission (NHM) had washed its hands off ASHAs. “There is no mention of them in the Union Budget. Moreover, the Centre has deprived Kerala of the Centre’s share of social welfare pensions”, he added.

Mr. Ramakrishnan said the LDF would resist the Congress’ and the BJP’s “move to target” State Health Minister Veena George by accusing her wrongly of failing ASHAs and anganwadi workers.

Published - March 21, 2025 01:42 pm IST