HYDERABAD: The emergency medical back-up system is facing a meltdown as the 108 service employees have launched an indefinite strike. The Contract Employees’ Association (CEA) called for a strike in the city on Monday citing various grievances including failure to pay the monthly salary of the employees for almost two months. The 108 service, which was first launched in 2005 by Satyam Computers, was later turned over by the government to GVK industries in 2009 as a public-private enterprise. The CEA claims that with the memorandum of understanding (MoU) expiring earlier this year, the service is facing a financial crunch.The loud and exuberant group of the striking employees outside the Indira park appeared determined to drive home their point that the popular service is being let down by the management. Their complaints include lack of basic amenities like technical support, medical supplies including latex gloves and stretchers. But the crux of the problem revolves around finances. The CEA is convinced that mediating employer, GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI), isn’t paying up the entire amount sanctioned by the government. However, the company vehemently denies the same.Said Swaroop MSR, head of public-private partnership, GVK EMRI, “Employees are under the impression that the money being sanctioned is not being utilised properly. However they need to understand that this isn’t a corporate job that pays handsomely. It is a noble service that is being done to help people.” Referring to the complaints of non-payment of salaries, he admitted, “It is true we fell behind because the sanctioning of the funds took time. But we cleared up the dues once things came through.”“There is a faction of 50-70 workers who are protesting at the Indira Park. The chief operating officer Siddharth Bhattacharya, the head of human resources, M S Murthy and myself had gone over to them and asked them to come for a reasonable discussion. However, they haven’t responded to our request. They are also preventing other employees who wish to work, from carrying out their duties. This is not like them,” alleged Swaroop. President of the CEA, Mohammad Abbas, however, refuted the allegations. “Given the current state of affairs, we want the government to take over the operation. We don’t require a mediating body. The 108 service which started in Andhra is running successfully as a government operation in other states. So why not here too?”Another employee Vardaraj complained, “We are an emergency service but we are unable to attend to our own emergencies. We are expected to pay for repairs to the vehicles, we are not sanctioned leaves, we are expected to show hospital bills for a sick leave, a death certificate (in case of taking leave due a death in the family), our shift timings are inhuman and the management simply doesn’t care.”
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