Kerala Raises ASHA Honorarium by ₹1,000, Strike to Continue

Overview

• Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced the monthly honorarium will rise from ₹7,000 to ₹8,000 starting November 1.
• All 26,125 ASHA workers in Kerala are covered by the increase, with pending payment arrears to be cleared.
• The government estimates the hike will add about ₹250 crore to annual state spending.
• KAHWA, which has led a months-long agitation now past 260 days, called the ₹1,000 raise roughly ₹33 a day and said protests will intensify.
• The cabinet also raised the rubber minimum support price to ₹200 per kg, up from ₹180.