The agitating ousted workers of the 108 ambulance service received a shot in arm on Monday when former chief minister Harish Rawat and many opposition leaders attended their Dharna at the protest site near parade ground. The members of the association are sitting on an indefinite Dharna from last 14 days.
In his address, Harish Rawat came down heavily on the state government; he said that instead of providing jobs to the unemployed, the state government is depriving them of jobs.
Averring that a ‘Blunder’ has occurred in grant of tender of the 108 emergency ambulance service in the state, Rawat said that government should act to save the jobs of the workers. “The state government should have ensured that a provision that the jobs of the workers would not get affected and they would continue to get the same salary they are receiving, should have been included in tender. The new company has received tender at very less rate.
Its effect is remained to be seen,’’ he said.The veteran leader said that the state government should correct the mistake done in the tender so that the jobs of the youths remained secure and the 108 ambulance continue to get the services of the experienced workers. Former minister and President of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), Diwaker Bhatt also attended the Dharna of the 108 ambulance workers. He said that his party extends its full support to the agitation of the workers.The general secretary of the association of field workers, Vipin Jamloki said that more than 700 workers of the ambulance workers were thrown out from the job for no fault of theirs.
He said that the agitation of the association would continue till government accepts their demands.The contract of GVK- EMRI Company to operate 108 emergency ambulance service ended on April 30 after the new company, CAMP took over the operation of ambulance service.
The new company CAMP is offering less salary to the experienced worker which is the bone of contention between it and the association of workers.
The workers are demanding that they should be absorbed into the new company on existing salaries.Former Minister Hira Singh Bisht, Congress MLA Manoj Rawat and others attended the Dharna.