Thiruvananthapuram | ASHA workers who staged a 265-day protest last year demanding an increase in their honorarium met Chief Minister-designate V D Satheesan here on Saturday.

Representatives of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association (KAHWA) reached the Cantonment House and held a brief meeting with Satheesan.

KAHWA had carried out a prolonged agitation last year seeking a hike in their honorarium to Rs 21,000 and a post-retirement benefit of Rs 5 lakh, demands that were not accepted by the LDF government.

Satheesan, who was the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly during the LDF regime, had promised that the demands of ASHA workers would be fulfilled if the UDF came to power in the state.

KAHWA leader Bindu told reporters that Satheesan had supported their agitation.

“We came here to congratulate him. We hope the assurances he made before the public will be implemented. He had approached the agitation very emotionally. We are hopeful as he is becoming Chief Minister,” she said.

Bindu said the workers were waiting with hope that a favourable decision would be taken on their demands.

“Everyone who supported and even those who opposed the agitation are hopeful,” she added.