The newly sworn-in United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala on Monday approved a slew of welfare measures, including free rides in state-run KSRTC buses for women from June 15, a decision $3,000 increase in monthly fees for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and formation of a dedicated department for elderly care in the state.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan announced the decisions. Two of them – free bus rides for women and elderly care management were counted among the five ‘Indira guarantees’ in the United Democratic Front’s election manifesto. The free bus ride scheme was earlier implemented in Congress-ruled Telangana and Karnataka.
Details of the scheme’s implementation will be announced late, Sathisan said.
Regarding the section dedicated to the elderly, he told reporters: “As far as I know, Kerala will be the first in India to have such a section. Japan has a large number of elderly people and a model that can be emulated. We will conduct studies on how to replicate the Japanese model here.”
In Kerala, the proportion of people aged 60 and above in 2026 is 18.7%, compared to the national average of 11.4%, according to statistics from the Office of the Registrar General of India. In 2031, the proportion of elderly people in Kerala is expected to rise to 20.9% compared to 13.1% in India.
The state government has also cleared the file to increase the monthly fees of ASHAs from the existing one $9000 to $12,000. The revised fees are still less than what UDF promised to raise to the level $21,000, in line with demands of trade union ASHA, which staged a record 265-day strike demanding a wage review and introduction of retirement benefits last year.
“During their protest in front of the Secretariat, I visited them and promised them that we will implement their demands one by one. I stand by my word. A decision on retirement benefits for ASHAs will be taken within a month after detailed studies of the state’s finances are conducted,” Sathisean said.
He added that the Cabinet approved increasing the monthly remuneration for Anganwadi workers and assistants, as well as pre-primary teachers and chefs. $1000. “Their wages are very low. $He said that 1,000 is also not a big rise, but we will take other decisions after studying the financial situation of the state.
Sathisan also announced that a special investigation team of Kerala Police will conduct a re-investigation into the alleged attack on Kerala Students Union activists by militants and other security officers of CM Pinarayi Vijayan during the state-level Nava Kerala Sadas in August 2023. Kerala University is the student wing of the Congress.
“The Supreme Court recommended re-investigation into the incident, but the LDF government did not do so. We have decided to order it,” Sathisan said, stressing that the move did not constitute political “revenge”.
The United Democratic Front (UDF) government has recommended Governor Rajendra Arlikar to convene a special session of the Assembly from May 21 to take oath of office. Ambalapuzha MLA-elect G Sudhakaran will be the speaker in support of Tem. The governor’s policy address is scheduled for May 29.
