Kerala govt forms panel to look into demands of striking ASHA workers-OxBig News Network

The Kerala government has constituted a five-member committee to study the demands of protesting Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and submit a report within three months.

The order forming the committee was issued only this week, though it had been announced last month following talks with the striking ASHA wokers.

The five-member committee will be chaired by Haritha V. Kumar, director, Women and Child Development department. R. Subhash, Health additional secretary, will be its convener. Two additional secretaries from the Finance and Labour departments will be nominated to the committee as members. K.M. Seena, head of Social Development at the National Health Mission, will be the third member.

The committee will meet representatives of ASHAs organisations and trade union representatives and submit its report.

ASHAs, under the banner of Kerala ASHA Health Workers’ Association (KAHWA), have been protesting since February 2025 seeking an increase in their remuneration and retirement benefits.