Thiruvananthapuram: As the agitation by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA workers) in Kerala seeking better emoluments completes eight months on Friday, they say they feel betrayed by a government committee report. The panel has recommended only a negligible increase in honorarium based on their service period.

According to the committee, headed by Director of the Women and Child Development Department Haritha V Kumar, ASHA workers with a service of over 10 years could receive a monthly hike of ₹1,500, and those with less service ₹1,000. The committee also suggested implementing the wage hike in phases, considering the financial position of the state government. An additional monthly payment of ₹500 has been recommended for conducting the ‘Shaili’ survey to detect lifestyle diseases among the state’s population.

Currently, ASHA workers receive a monthly honorarium of ₹7,000. They began the agitation demanding an increase to ₹21,000 and a retirement benefit of ₹5 lakh. The government committee, however, has proposed to end their services upon reaching the age of 60, with a consolidated payment of ₹50,000. The panel also noted that of this amount, announced by the Central Government, the State’s share is ₹20,000.

Another recommendation is the distribution of honorarium and other benefits on the tenth of every month.

Terming the panel’s recommendations disappointing, Kerala ASHA Health Workers’ Association leaders V K Sadanandan and M A Bindu said the strike will continue. “We will take out a march to Cliff House on October 22, seeking the Chief Minister’s intervention to end our strike,” they said.