Proposed handover of emergency services
Shillong, Aug 19: Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has announced that the government has decided to institute a system to address the issues concerning the workers of the 108 emergency services in Meghalaya.
The minister also revealed that the government is working on a formula to resolve the issue surrounding the proposed handing over of the emergency services to a private company.
When asked on the recent demand of the 108 workers for an increment of Rs 5,000, Lyngdoh mentioned that a hike had been given recently and said “Let me not discuss like this in the media because workers of the 108 and I, who is representing the government and the MD (of National Health Mission) will meet if the need arises but the last I met them, it was fine.”
“So with the new development, I presume that we are now challenged with the task that we institute a system which will attend to matters of workers of the 108. We cannot any longer slow this down as there are too many problems. I am grateful to the 108 workers who have done their job excellently,” she stated.
Stating that the government does not have a model in position and NHM is still handholding the workers, Lyngdoh said, “Recently, certain jobs have been outsourced to a Shishupal company. We are working to ensure that we have a system in position. What the government will do, we are still engaging at the level of the chief minister. It would be incorrect for me to say something which is still in the process of evaluation and consideration.”
Lyngdoh highlighted that the government is facing challenges in maintaining the fleet of ambulances due to the lack of a company to look after them.
She assured that the government is working on a plan to increase the number of fleets and ensure that the workers’ issues are addressed.
Regarding the delay in handing over the 108 services to a private company, the minister stated that the issue goes beyond tendering and is now a matter of finding a formula to resolve the disputes between the players involved.
“It goes beyond tendering now. Its players in that tender who are not happy with each other and collateral damage are obviously the workers. People are going to court, people are approaching the judiciary which is their right. It is not resolved and it is like a continuous proceeding. We have tried several times but it has never worked. We are now tasked to come up with a formula to resolve this,” she added.
The minister assured that the government is committed to ensuring that the 108 workers are covered under insurance and other benefits, given the nature of their job.
She expressed her appreciation for the workers’ excellent job and emphasized that they are an important workforce.
The minister stated that once the plan is ready, she will share it with everyone, particularly the workers of the 108 services.
