Odisha’s 108 Ambulance Service Faces Disruption as Over 6,000 Workers Threaten Strike

Bhubaneswar: The 108 Ambulance service in Odisha may come to a standstill starting November 1, as over 6,000 employees have announced plans for a state-wide strike.

The workers, represented by the Ambulance Employees’ Association, intend to park approximately 1,300 ambulances along National Highways to protest what they say is unfair treatment by EMRI Green Health Services, a private agency that recently took over the emergency service contract in Odisha.

The dispute centers around the agency’s decision not to rehire nearly 200 employees who had been selected to represent and advocate for workers’ rights in each district. EMRI Green Health Services was awarded the contract on September 22, committing to reemploy the 6,000 existing staff members. However, union representatives allege that the agency deliberately excluded 200 employees who had been designated as leaders to safeguard employees’ interests across Odisha.

“These 200 workers were selected to ensure fair treatment and address concerns on behalf of the ambulance staff in each district. By excluding them, the agency is disregarding the rights of employees and leaving them vulnerable,” a spokesperson from the Ambulance Employees’ Association stated.

To bring attention to their demands, the association plans to submit a formal memorandum to District Magistrates and Chief Medical Officers across Odisha’s 30 districts on Monday. The memorandum will emphasize the workers’ call for the reinstatement of the 200 excluded employees and outline the potential impact on the state’s emergency services should the dispute continue unresolved.

The potential strike could severely disrupt critical ambulance services throughout Odisha, impacting response times and access to emergency healthcare for residents. State officials have yet to respond publicly, and EMRI Green Health Services has not issued a statement regarding the exclusion of the district-level leaders.

With a statewide protest looming, the Ambulance Employees’ Association is urging the state government to step in and facilitate discussions with EMRI Green Health Services to find a solution that prioritizes the welfare of both the employees and the citizens who rely on this essential service.