Ambulance employees' strike continues as company starts fresh hiring

The strike by ambulance employees in Himachal Pradesh entered its seventh day today as the protestors continued their sit-in near the secretariat today.

Meanwhile, a day after terminating 63 of the striking employees, GVK EMRI (Emergency Management and Research Institute) has started process of fresh hiring.

"We are not deterred by the termination of our 63 colleagues. We will continue our strike till our demand of running 108 ambulances by National Health Mission (NHM) on Haryana pattern is met after cancelling of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GVK EMRI," said the ambulance employees' union state head Pooran Chand.

Meanwhile after terminating 63 employees, GVK EMRI has started fresh recruitment process.

Issuing advertisements in local papers, the company has fixed interviews of the applicants in Solan, Kangra, Mandi, Chamba and Sirmaur districts between July 2 and 5.

On the other hand, Chand told PTI that a deputation of striking employees led by their national president Bikramjeet Singh Saini had submitted a meorandum to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur yesterday demanding cancellation of the MoU with GVK EMRI and taking the services of ambulance under NHM purview.

"The Union has given 48-hour ultimatum to the state government to accept their demand. Failing which, we will be left with no option but to intensify our agitation," he added.

The state government has already imposed essential services maintenance act (ESMA) in 11 out of total 12 districts except Lahaul-Spiti in view of the situation.