EMRI workers demand health minister to step down

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 6, 2019

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Emergency Management and Research Institute Workers’ Union (MEMRIWU) on Wednesday has demanded the health minister AL Hek to immediately step down for his failure to resolve the ongoing stalemate, which has affected the emergency services in the state.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the ongoing indefinite hunger strike here, MEMRIWU president Roypar Kharraswai said that the health minister seems to be not interested in calling both the parties for a round-table discussion to find out ways and means to break the deadlock.

“We demand the health minister to immediately step down if it is not within his capacity to resolve this problem,” adviser of the Union R Kongwang said.

He said the employees of the GVK EMRI and the people of the state are the worst affected due to the indifferent attitude of the state government and the management of the GVK EMRI.

“It clearly reflects that health minister has totally failed in this issue and we suggest that he pave way for others (in the cabinet) who are capable to resolve this stalemate,” Kongwang said.

On the other hand, the president also said that the Union will be compelled to seek the intervention of the Meghalaya High Court, if the state government is delaying on the matter.

The health condition of over 13 agitating field staffs of the 108 ambulance service have deteriorated as the indefinite hunger strike enters the ninth day.

The Union has also vehemently opposed the 7-day ultimatum served by the GVK EMRI to the employees to resume work, failing which the company will be compelled to effect fresh recruitment.

The notice was issued despite the Union had already expressed its willingness to call off the indefinite hunger strike provided that 8 of the 36-point charter of demands are addressed by the state government and the management.

Asked, publicity secretary Joseph Pyngrope has termed the notice by the management as a tactic to terminate the agitating employees.

“We have decided to wait till the end of the seven-day deadline given by the management and if there is any attempt to call for fresh recruitment we will intensify our protest. Our protest is do or die,” he said.

Pyngrope also referred to the pre-termination notice issued by the state government giving 60 days time to the GVK EMRI to resume the emergency services and said, “It will not be possible for them to re-start the emergency services within this deadline as they cannot appoint people with no experience.”

Meanwhile, one of the female workers has also refused to be admitted in the hospital despite of her health condition. Her colleague Susan asked the state government to stop its step motherly treatment to the employees.

“What wrong we have committed by demanding for our rights. We respect our work and we want to provide quality service to the people. There have been instances where patients died halfway due to our ill-equiped ambulances,” she said.

According to her, the management has not made any official communication to the union on the notice issued recently.

Meanwhile, the eight-point of demands include working hours, working condition, leave policy, 100 percent salary enhancement, 30 percent annual increment, clearing the arrear pending from 2017, maintainance of ambulances and safety working condition for women staffs.