Thiruvananthapuram: Several ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists) staged a march to the Secretariat and held a dharna on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of their 265-day-long epochal strike for various demands that went on for most of last year.The ASHAs stuck to their earlier demands and expressed strong protest over govt’s neglect towards them. The workers want govt to fulfil their original demands, including an increase in honorarium to Rs 21,000, a one-time retirement benefit of Rs 5 lakh and regular disbursement of benefits, among others. The ASHAs maintained that state govt should increase their honorariums, and not the central govt, because they work for state govt. The workers, who were on a day-and-night sit-in protest in front of the Secretariat, withdrew it on Nov 1, 2025, after state govt announced an increase in monthly honorarium by Rs 1,000. However, they continued their protests in the districts.
