Saraikela: Employees of 108 Ambulance services on indefinite strike

Mail News Service

Saraikela, August 10: The employees of the district’s 108 Ambulance services launched on an indefinite strike in demand for pending wages since the last five months among others. A delegation of the striking employees from Saraikela-Kharsawan handed a memorandum to the effect to the Civil Surgeon. It may be mentioned that there are 14 ambulances in the district’s 108 services’ fleet. The availability of emergency services will likely be affected due to the strike called by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and 108 service ambulance drivers.

The memorandum of demand and strike notification was signed by all the 52 EMTs and ambulance drivers who included Krishna Kumar Mahato, Vikas Mahato, Bhagirathi Mahato, Vipin Mahato, Ashwini Mahato, Jagdish Patro, Kundan Kumar Sahu, Shyam Pado Mahato, Shakti Pado Mahato, Fulchand Majhi, Ajit Das, Narendra Gope, Gulshan Gilua, Rakesh Mahato, Bharat Mahato, Prahlad Mahato, Ratan Mahato and Udit Kumar Singhdev.

The memorandum highlighted that the non-payment of wages for the past 5 months had pushed them to the brink of starvation. The striking employees contended that despite working tirelessly 24/7 and risking their lives to provide services to patients, even during the COVID period, their payments had been held up. They have demanded that all pending wages be disbursed immediately and their salaries be paid promptly.