108 ambulance operators' strike enters 2nd day, patients suffer
Despite working in the essential service sector, the ambulance drivers and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) launched the strike, demanding a hike in their payments and improved working conditions.
An official of the ambulance service provider, however, denied providing a lower salary or depriving them of benefits.
Even as the employees and the service provider are making charges and counter-charges against each other, patients are shelling out extra money to hire private vehicles and ambulances.
Later, the service provider said it would not allow the employees to hold the essential service to ransom and would take up alternative measures to streamline the service at the earliest.
Some measures were already in place to help the patients, the service provider added.
Notably, around 100 ambulance drivers and EMTs from various districts gathered in Ranchi to stage a protest against the Bihar-based private agency, Samman Foundation, which is operating the 108 ambulance service in the state.
The workers alleged that despite long working hours and critical responsibilities, they are paid meagre salaries and are denied basic facilities.
by Taboola
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They said until their issues are resolved, the ambulance service would be halted across the state.
Neeraj Tiwari, the state president of the Jharkhand Pradesh Ambulance Karmachari Sangh, alleged that despite being engaged in an emergency service that has been providing essential health assistance to the people since the inception of 108 ambulance services in Jharkhand in 2017, their standard of living has deteriorated.
According to Tiwari, the workers were neither given medical benefits nor the salary promised under the state labour laws. Moreover, they don't get overtime money, though they work 12 hours or more without getting any holidays or days off, Tiwari claimed.
The protesting workers also demanded provident funds and medical insurance facilities. Moreover, they said as the 108 ambulances are deteriorating, the vehicles often put their and patients' lives at risk.
In the meantime, Pankaj Dubey, a patient who came to Rims on Tuesday for a leg injury, had to hire a private ambulance for Rs 2,000 to reach the hospital from Itki, a distance of about 30 km .
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