Arogya Kavacha workers call off agitation

The strike had crippled ambulance services



FOR JOB SECURITY:Members of the Karnataka Rajya Arogya Kavacha (108) Workers' Sangha raising slogans in support of their demands in Bangalore on Saturday.

Bangalore: The strike by the employees working under the Arogya Kavacha scheme was called off in Bangalore and a few other districts on Saturday following the intervention of the implementing agency and the Health Department.

“Since we have been assured of a discussion with the management by the officials, we have decided to call off the strike in Bangalore and services will get back to normal,” said K.V. Bhat, member of the All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC) to which the Karnataka Rajya Arogya Kavacha (108) Workers' Sangha is affiliated.

Earlier, staff of about 20 ambulances in the city went on a strike, protesting the alleged harassment of Sharanbasappa, an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in Sindagi taluk of Bijapur district, who had attempted suicide by consuming poison on Friday. The emergency health care facility had come to a standstill in the State following a strike by the staff since Friday .

Drivers and emergency medical technicians hired by GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI), which is the nodal agency operating the scheme to provide free ambulance service at the spot of emergency, had gone on strike in protest against the sacking of 19 employees. They had parked over 300 ambulances at the offices of deputy commissioners in the districts.

hindu.com