Guwahati: The indefinite strike by employees of Assam’s 108 emergency ambulance service entered its fourth day on Thursday, escalating after over 500 staffers were terminated. The protest, ongoing since December 1 at Chachal, intensified as workers staged a shirtless demonstration to symbolize what they described as the government’s neglect of frontline health workers.
“We served throughout floods, COVID-19, and emergencies, but today we were dismissed like we don’t matter. We will not step back until the government responds. This fight is for fair wages and dignity,” a protester said.
The terminations, issued by EMRI Green Health Services, cited “failure to perform duties, insubordination, and participation in the ongoing strike” as reasons. EMRI claimed the strike had severely disrupted ambulance operations, inconveniencing the public. Workers, however, alleged the dismissal letters were issued without prior warning.
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The agitation focuses on three key demands: regularising nearly 3,000 workers, ensuring fair wages, and providing overtime compensation. The escalation follows Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s warning on Wednesday that employees continuing the strike risked dismissal, with new recruits to replace them if necessary.
Protesting employees described the mass terminations as punitive and unethical, citing their service during critical emergencies, and vowed to continue the strike until their demands are addressed.
