Kerala cabinet's first step: Satheesan announces KSRTC free travel for women, 'first of its kind' department for senior citizens

The new Chief Minister of Kerala, VD Satheesan, announced the key decisions taken during the first cabinet meeting held after the swearing-in ceremony on Monday 18 May.

Vadasseri Damodara Menon Satheesan, who steered the Congress-led UDF back to power in Kerala after a decade by ousting the Left Front, was on Monday sworn in as the chief minister at a packed and politically charged ceremony held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.

As many as 20 ministers were sworn in including Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.

Soon after the swearing-in ceremony and tea gathering at Lok Bhavan, the new cabinet, chaired by Satheesan, held its first meeting at the state secretariat and approved the implementation of four key promises made by the party during the 2026 Kerala elections.

1. ₹3,000 increase in honorarium for ASHA workers, taking the total monthly remuneration to ₹12,000.

2. Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) free travel for women from 15th June.

3. Honorary tours for Anganwadi workers, cooks, pre-primary teachers and ayas.

4. A “first of its kind” dedicated portfolio for senior welfare.

Emphasizing that aging is the major demographic challenge in Kerala, CM Satheesan said that the true measure of a civilized society is how it respects and cares for its old people.

He shared a vision where Kerala will soon declare to the whole world that it is a truly civilized society by the way it takes care of its senior citizens.

Notably, Kerala is known as the ‘grey state’ of India and has the highest proportion of elderly people in the country. More than 18% of the state’s population is 60 years of age or older, with estimates set to exceed 22%.

The CM also assured a ₹1000 salary increase for cooks, maids and pre-primary teachers.

The Chief Minister further confirmed the maintenance of law and order in the state and said that the Cabinet has decided to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the alleged assault of Youth Congress-KSU workers by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s security personnel during a protest in Alappuzha in November 2024.

The chief minister said the inquiry would not be a “political vendetta” but a necessary step to restore the rule of law and ensure that law enforcement officers are held accountable for their actions.

“We are simply carrying out a court order. How can this be interpreted as a political vendetta? No. We are not forgetting anything,” he told the media.

The CM further said that the first session of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly will begin on Thursday, May 21 and the election of the Speaker of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly is scheduled for the next day i.e. May 22.