India, April 7 -- On the 50th day of the protest, Padmajam from Trivandrum decided to join the other women in chopping off her hair, except, unlike the hundreds of others who cut off a few inches, she went and shaved it all off.

It was an extreme step - one that marked her frustration with the Kerala government. Despite nearly two months of protest, the government has not given in to the demands of her fellow ASHAs (accredited social health activists). At nearly 62, Padmajan is running out of time before she retires after working for 17 years as an ASHA.

Sitting in front of the secretariat building from where she and thousands of her fellow ASHAs have been protesting for close to two months, many of the women were weeping. "This act of ...