Shillong, Jun 3: The Meghalaya EMRI Workers Union has reiterated its opposition to the state government trying to palm the 108 emergency ambulance service off onto a private player.
The Meghalaya government has re-tendered the service but the workers instead want to be retained under government management with regularised staff.
The service was run by GVK until 2022 when the latter’s contract was not renewed following widespread worker protests. The EMRI union has previously stated that GVK’s “poor performance” had affected emergency responses, especially in accident cases, with issues like maintenance problems, inability to repair ambulances on time, cost cutting, lack of manpower and inadequate medical supplies also getting in the way.
“We strongly oppose the move to privatisation and tendering to a company and urge the government to retain the service for the welfare and benefits of the people,” union president Roypar Kharraswai said.
The 108 service has been operating for 16 years and is a “top most essential service” for emergencies. “It’s high time for the state government to improve this service rather than planning for tendering to a private company,” Kharraswai said.
The union said private agencies are “primarily profit-oriented and may resort to cost-cutting measures that can compromise service quality, operational standards and transparency.”
The union also placed a list of immediate demands which includes resolution of salary anomalies and elimination of payment delays. Ensure timely and regular disbursement to all employees.
They also demanded administrative action against the Programme Manager for “persistent instances of mismanagement, manipulation, inability to address key issues” since NHM took over. The union also sought an enquiry into non-payment of several compensations.
They also demanded expedited assessment and recruitment to address shortages. “Hundreds of cases are de-assigned every month due to lack of manpower and shortage of ambulances,” it said.
