108 Ambulance Employees In Odisha Resort To Protest, Switch-Off GPS Buttons

Bhubaneswar: Emergency health services was severely hit across Odisha on Wednesday as the employees engaged in 108 ambulance service switched off the vital GPS (Global Positioning System) buttons in the vehicles.

To press their long-standing demands which includes equal pay for equal work, job security and gratuity among other benefits, the employees switched off the GPS buttons of the ambulances across the state, they said.

Speaking to the media in Bhubaneswar, the agitating employees alleged that the new management which got the tender did not retain 94 previous employees after October 20 last. There was also disparity in salaries, they resented.

The protesting employees further stated that a special relief package announced by the previous BJD government has yet to be disbursed to the workers. The special relief package included a monthly allowance of Rs 5,000 for drivers and emergency medical technicians, and Rs 3,000 for helpers. Besides, the employees were promised a monthly special allowance in addition to the basic salary by the previous government, which is yet to be paid, they added.

They further stated that they have only switched off the GPS buttons of 108 ambulances, but are operating on offline mode. They clarified that when approached in person, they are discharging their duties as usual. But will continue to switch off the GPS buttons till their long standing demands are met, they added.