The employees of the 108 Emergency Ambulances continued their strike for the second day on Saturday. The Government, however, claimed that the strike is not affecting the ambulance services across the State.
National Health Mission (NHM) Director Salini Pandit said two 108 Ambulance employees were arrested in Balangir district under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).
Drivers, helpers and medical technicians of the ambulances are on agitation demanding, among other things, payment of minimum guaranteed wages, a 15-per cent annual increment and construction of rest houses.
Despite the appeal of the Ziqitza Health Service (ZHS), a private agency that runs the services, and also the State Government’s imposition of the ESMA threatening disciplinary action against them, the employees have resorted to the cease-work agitation demanding fulfilment of their seven-point charter of demands.
The NHM Director said the strike has not affected the health service. However, the situation is expected to worsen in the coming days.
Pandit said the ZHS has already agreed to hike the employees’ wages from eight per cent to 12 per cent, extra payment for overtime and food allowance.
She further informed that the Government is on its toes to avoid any untoward incidents. The ZHS is operating 364 Basic life Support (BlS) and 56 Advanced life Support (AlS) ambulances in the State as per the NHM guidelines.
“We have made alternative arrangements to meet the crisis arising out of the ongoing strike. We appeal to the striking employees to join work. Their demands are under consideration of the Government. Strict legal action will be taken as per the law if they fail to join at the earliest,” Pandit said.