Free bus ride for women, increased salary for ASHA workers among decisions taken at first VD Satheesan

The first cabinet meeting of the VD Satheesan government decided to grant free travel for women in all ordinary and mofussil buses operated by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) from June 15

Speaking to the media after the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Satheesan said the decision regarding the five guarantees promised by the UDF in its election manifesto was made in the first cabinet meeting itself. He said the free travel scheme for women in KSRTC will be implemented from June 15

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The Cabinet also decided to form a special department for the elderly. Pointing out that the elderly department is the first of its kind in the country, the Chief Minister said that if the society wants to become civilized, the elderly must be protected.

The Chief Minister also said that the salary of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers has been increased by Rs 3,000, taking their total honorarium from Rs.9,000 to Rs.12,000.

“I am the one who went to the ASHA workers’ protest tent before and on the day of the end of the strike. I am the one who promised them that I would start announcing assistance for them in the first cabinet. As part of that, I am announcing an increase of Rs 3,000 for them as the first phase,” the CM said.

The wages of cooking workers in the state have been increased by Rs. 1,000. The honorarium of pre-primary teachers and nannies has been increased by Rs. 1,000.

The Cabinet also decided to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the police overreach and physical assault on Youth Congress leaders during the 2023 Nava Kerala Sadas event.

The Cabinet requested the Governor to call the state assembly session on May 21 for the swearing-in of MLAs, followed by the Speaker election on May 22. The Governor’s policy announcement will be on May 29.

Veteran leader G. Sudhakaran was recommended as the Pro-tem Speaker. Jaiju Babu has been appointed as the new Advocate General and T. Asaf Ali as the Director General of Prosecutions.