108 Ambulance Service May Go Off Roads In Odisha From Nov 1; Know Why

Bhubaneswar: The 108 Ambulance service is likely to stay off roads in Odisha with more than 6,000 employees threatening a statewide strike from November 1.

Around 1,300 ambulances will be parked along National Highways as a part of the protest against EMRI Green Health Services, a private agency, over its decision not to rehire around 200 employees, who were selected leaders to fight for the rights of the ambulance workers in each district.

The company got the emergency service contract in Odisha on September 22. It hired 6000 employees and 200 among them were made leaders of the Ambulance Workers’ Association. “We had chosen around 200 leaders in each district to represent us and ensure our employees’ safety, security and address their problems. However, the company intentionally fired them this year,” alleged secretary of the Ambulance Workers’ Association Sriramchandra Acharya.

“On October 30, we will turn off the GPS and go off roads. But, we will continue to provide off-road services. If our pleas are not heard by them, we will call state-wide indefinite strike from November 1 and hit the streets,” he added.

The association also plans to submit a memorandum to the District Magistrates and Chief Medical Officers in all 30 districts on Monday, pressing for reinstatement of the fired workers.