Ambulance services hit as GVK staff strike work

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 9

Ambulance services were crippled in most districts today after employees of GVK EMRI, the company which operates ambulances under 108 and 102 emergency response services, went on strike for the second time, demanding DA, payment for overtime and framing of policies.

Even though the Health Department pressed into service drivers from the Home Guards to run the 108 and 102 national ambulance services in the state, the impact of the strike was visible in many parts of the state.

Striking employees of GVK met Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Vineet Chaudhary with their demands. The Chief Minister directed the Health Department and the company to resolve the issue amicably and resume the ambulance service in the state. The employees demanded the state government should frame policy for them as they have been rendering 24x7 emergency service to patients in the state for the past more than five years. “GVK company neither pay them for overtime and nor does it pay DA”, they charged.

Though GVK assured the striking employees of sorting out the issue, the latter insisted on a written assurance and the minutes of the meetings from the former. The ambulance service will be resumed tomorrow.

National Heath Mission Managing Director Dr Hans Raj said the government had asked GVK’s human resource head to sort out the matter with employees. “The employees will call off the strike and likely to resume service by tomorrow”, he claimed.