CATS contractual employees call off strike, resume work

The contractual workers of the Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) today called off their strike following assurance from the state health secretary that their demands will be looked into.
Yesterday, around 240 contractual paramedics and 370 contractual drivers of CATS had gone on strike against the express of interest floated by Delhi government on Jan 9 to outsource the operation and maintenance of its CATS ambulance services.
The employees held a meeting with health secretary S C L Das today. "The Delhi government's health secretary has assured us during the meeting that he will look into the matter," said Narendra Lakra, President CATS working association.

"CATS contractual staff will continue under the administrative control of CATS directly which is clearly mentioned in the expression of interest that has been floated. There is no way that they will lose their job," said N Vasantha Kumar, Director CATS who confirmed that the employees have called off the strike.
The CATS control room had received over 500 calls for the ambulance services yesterday.
The Delhi government is also in the process of procuring 110 more CATS ambulances. At present, there are 152 ambulances -- 21 advanced life support ambulances, 10 basic life support ambulances and 121 patient transporting ambulances.