KalingaTV News Network
Sambalpur: Resorting to tough measures against the agitating 108 ambulance workers, Samblalpur Police arrested over 300 staff involved in cease work last night and forwarded them to court. The arrests were made after State Health Department invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the ambulance staffs.
Informing on the step, Amarendra Rana, Additional SP Sambalpur said the staffs were taken into custody after they did not pay heed to repeated appeal by the government to join work. The move is aimed at restoring the essential healthcare service which had been badly affected since December 20 due to the strike.
“Over 300 agitating ambulance staff were picked up by police from the protest ground in front of RDC office on Thursday, after ESMA was clamped. Police arrested them last night after they refused to apply for bail under Personal Recognizance (PR) Bonds. In the first phase 244 workers have been forwarded to court and formalities are underway to forward the rest 100,” said Rana.
The agitating ambulance staffs are demanding wages on a fixed date, eight-hour work day, overtime allowance as per labour laws, and cancellation of government’s partnership with the private agency which is operating 108 ambulance service in Odisha.
Following the arrests, the ambulance workers’ union has threatened to intensify the stir. The essential service has been paralyzed in at least 22 districts in the state.
Ms Kalinga