Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: The state government Friday threatened to invoke ESMA in the wake of cease-work resorted to by several workers employed with 108 ambulance service disrupting emergency healthcare system in the state.
In response to an indefinite cease-work call from Friday demanding conceding of their seven-point demands, the members of the emergency service staged a protest at lower PMG square.
According to 108 Ambulance Employees’ Association secretary Manoj Sahoo, workers would resort to strike and dharna and boycott work with immediate effect. The workers sat with placards and raised slogans to press for their demands.
The aggrieved employees alleged Orissa government has not paid heed to their demands despite several representations to the service provider and the government.
The workers complained that workers in this system have been working for over 12 hours a day. The association’s seven-point charter of demands includes minimum wages, annual increment of 15 per cent and rest houses for staff.
Health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and Chief Secretary AP Padhi are reported to have discussions with the district collectors and superintendents of police through a video-conferencing.
Nayak said, “If the situation warrants we will invoke essential services maintenance Act (ESMA). We have held talks with the district administration and asked them to ensure the healthcare system does not get affected. We have discussed alternative ways to help people in medical need.”
The 108 system is managed by a firm which has signed an agreement with the National Health Mission to run the services to aid the healthcare system in the state.
