UP ambulance strike Day 5: GVK asks 102, 108 service drivers to return to work; state govt warns of ‘strict action’
On the fifth day of the ambulance strike in Uttar Pradesh, the drivers from various districts continued to protest against the allegedly unfair employment conditions while the private company urged them to return to work. Also, CM Adityanath has warned of strict action if patients die due to unavailability of ambulances. Details here.
The strike by the staffers of the government’s ambulance service in Uttar Pradesh reached its fifth day today on July 30. The private company, GVK EMRI (Emergency Management and Research Institute) has asked the protesting drivers to return to work or face termination of their services.
“You are hereby informed that you are given the last chance of returning to work. The last date to report to work is fixed as August 1, 2021. If you fail to report to work till this date, your services shall be terminated formally and the termination letter shall be posted to their permanent address,” the circular issued by GVK stated today.
UP ambulance strike Day 4: District admins arrange new drivers, thousands of former drivers continue to protest; patients suffer
Meanwhile, amidst allegation by the protesters that untrained drivers have been operating the ambulances, the district administrations in Uttar Pradesh have managed to get the ambulance service functional by new drivers.
An estimated 2,500 protesting drivers from districts such as Mirzapur, Barabanki, Sitapur and Unnao have gathered at Lucknow’s Eco Park to demonstrate against the employment conditions offered by Ziqitza Health Care, the company that is taking over the contract of advanced life support system (ALS) ambulances.
The regular ambulance drivers (102-maternity and 108-emergency service) have joined the ALS ambulance drivers in solidarity.
Uttar Pradesh govt warns of ‘strict action’
Having been apprised about conditional termination by the GVK company, the drivers have also been warned by the state government that ‘strict action’ shall be taken if a patient dies due to unavailability of the ambulances.
In a press statement issued by the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government, it has been stated today that ‘strict action will be taken against the guilty if any incident of sudden death due to unavailability of ambulance takes place’.
CM Adityanath has also instructed the officials to ensure 24X7 availability of the ambulance service across the state.
Priyanka Gandhi targets UP govt on ambulance strike
Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi stated yesterday that the government has suspended 500 drivers and booked them under the Essential Services Management Act (ESMA).
“The government that once talked about showering the Corona warriors with flower-petals has now booked 500 drivers under ESMA who raised their voice against their rights,” Gandhi stated in a tweet.
Also Read: Uttar Pradesh govt’s 102, 108 ambulance service grinds to halt as drivers launch strike
Countering Gandhi’s remarks, BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh stated today that the Congress leader was misleading the public.
“Drivers are not government employees, and firing them was solely the decision of the companies they were working for,” Singh said.
Meanwhile, the ambulances in the state are being driven by temporary drivers until a permanent solution is reached.
What is the Uttar Pradesh ambulance strike about?
Two primary ambulance services of the Uttar Pradesh government — 102 (delivery of pregnant women) and 108 (emergency service) — have come to a grinding halt since July 25-26 midnight, as the ambulance drivers across the state have gone on an indefinite strike.
Till now GVK EMRI (Emergency Management and Research Institute) was operating advanced life support system (ALS), 108, and 102 ambulance services in the state.
Now, the responsibility of the ALS ambulance service has been given to Ziqitza Health Care. The ALS ambulance drivers have launched a protest against the changes in their employment conditions and payment following the handover of the ambulance service tender to a different company.
The protesting drivers claim that the employment conditions offered by the new company are unjust and the government should be considerate towards their selfless service at a time when the COVID19 was at its peak. The general ambulance drivers (102 and 108 emergency service) have also joined the protests in solidarity and this has created fresh troubles for the healthcare system in the state.
However, the Ziqitza Health Care told Gaon Connection that most of the demands being raised by the on strike ambulance staff in Uttar Pradesh are directed towards National Health Mission and the state government regarding regularisation.
“The only demand directed towards ZHL is regarding recruitment of the ALS ambulance staff in the state, for which we have sent out multiple notices to the ambulance unions for participating in the recruitment process. Also, experienced ALS ambulance staff, employed by previous service providers, had been given preference in the recruitment process,” the company said in a statement.
“Ziqitza Healthcare Limited has only been given tender for operating 250 ALS ambulances in the state. The company is not responsible for the operation of 108 ambulances in the state and the strike is being conducted by 108 and 102 ambulances as well. Hence, the grievances raised by the union are also directed towards the agency responsible for operating 108 and 102 ambulances in the state, which is not ZHL,” it added.