108 Services resume in Rajasthan, Staff return on work

The state government on Thursday finally stepped in and resolved the 108 ambulance staff crisis. The new operator has also agreed to accept some of the strikers’ demands. The services are expected to be normalised by Friday evening. “You must ensure that labour laws are applied in your company,” the state National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has written to the new operator, Ziqitza. The operator is expected to take over the 108 emergency ambulance services from June 30. The employees had signed a contract with the outgoing operator, GVK EMRI, however, financial contract with EMRI was not renewed last year.The crisis faced by patients, apparently, forced the government to intervene on fourth day of the strike.
“We have asked the new operator to ensure that the employees work in eighthour shifts and get an appropriate increment,” said state minister for health, Rajkumar Sharma. The ministry proceeded for the mediation following a review of the situation by the chief minister in the morning. Following the talks, the new operator, in a written statement, agreed to retain the field staff with their existing remuneration. Increment will be provided to them when new staff is recruited. The satisfied employees called off the strike immediately. However, it will take 24 hours for the agency to take back the ambulances. The government had acquired all the vehicles on Tuesday evening.