T’puram: ASHAs have decided to intensify protests against the govt’s neglect of their strike. They have decided to focus on panchayat-level protests, and as part of this, they have planned to hold 1,000 protest meetings in July and Aug in all the panchayats across the state. The indefinite day-and-night strike in front of the Secretariat has entered its 141st day. Meanwhile, the committee appointed by the govt, led by Haritha V Kumar, director of women and child development department, held discussion with the protestors on Monday. The protestors put forward a set of 27 demands before the govt-appointed committee. Although the committee urged the leaders to withdraw the strike, the leaders, including M A Bindu and S Mini, told the committee that they will not end the strike until their demands are met.The govt-appointed committee promised them that their demands would be submitted along with the report at the earliest to the govt. However, the demand to withdraw the strike was turned down by the protestors.The govt appointed the committee in May after the health minister’s discussion with the protestors. The minister promised after this meeting that the govt would take a clear decision on the workers’ retirement benefits, service period, and honorarium after receiving the committee’s report.
