A day before going on a State-wide indefinite cease-work strike, employees of the 108 Emergency Ambulance service on Thursday staged a demonstration in front of the Assembly to mount pressure on the Government to fulfil their seven-point charter of demands.
The 108 Ambulance employees include drivers, helpers and medical technicians.
“We urge the State Government and the service provider to sort our genuine demands today. Else, we will be resorted to cease-work stir from tomorrow,” said the 108 Ambulance Service Association president.
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Arti Ahuja wrote to the Home Secretary Asit Tripathy requesting to extend the enforcement of Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) by six months more. On Wednesday, Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and Chief Secretary AP Padhi had asked the district Collectors to make alternative arrangements for patients.
The aggrieved employees of the 108 ambulance service have been demanding payment of minimum guaranteed wages, 15 per cent annual increment, eight hour working provision and construction of rest shades for them among others.