Even rains whole day failed to deter the employees of ‘108-Sanjeevani Express’ and ‘102-Mahtari Express’ to continue with their stir on the seventh day. They continued their sit-in on Sunday amid heavy rainfall at the Idgah Bhata ‘Dharna’ site in capital city, wearing raincoats and holding umbrellas.
Notable, the district administration taking stern action after the order of strike was declared illegal under ESMA Act sections had denied permission to continue to stage demonstration. As punitive action, tents at the agitation site were razed. Now, they are demonstrating under open sky facing the wrath of nature fighting for their rights alleging exploitation by the operating agency GVK for past seven years.
Despite termination orders served to 46 of employees, the Employees’ Association is adamant over their five point charter of demands of timely payment of salary, ending the contract system and providing minimum wages.
They have refused to return to work and have warned to intensify their agitation further.
On the other hand, the stopping of the emergency services had badly hampered the transportation of poor patients, especially in rural areas, who rely on the free ambulance services to reach the hospitals. With the ambulances going off the road, the needy persons are hiring the services of private vehicles, which is putting additional cost burden on them.