Himachal Pradesh News
Mandi News : Ambulance Services Paralyse in Mandi as 108–102 Staff Go on Two-Day Strike
Emergency ambulance services came to a halt in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district after 108 and 102 ambulance staff began a two-day strike under the CITU banner, protesting low wages, long hours and denial of statutory benefits.
Ambulance services across Mandi district were severely disrupted on Friday after ambulance staff affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) began a two-day strike, bringing emergency medical services to a standstill.
The strike, which started at midnight on Thursday, is scheduled to continue until Saturday night. According to the union, all 169 ambulance employees in the district—including drivers and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs)—participated in the strike, resulting in the suspension of services at 28 locations. As many as 50 ambulances and bike ambulances remained off the road, significantly impacting public healthcare in the district.
Striking employees assembled at the district headquarters in Mandi, where they staged a demonstration and took out a rally through the town. Union leaders claimed the strike was completely successful across the district.
The protest was led by district president of the ambulance staff union Sumit Kapoor and general secretary Pankaj Kumar, along with union leaders Santosh Kumari, Mamta Sharma, Rajni, Tilak Raj, Yogesh Kumar, Chaman Lal, Manoj Kumar, Ranjneesh and Hans Raj. CITU district president Bhupender Singh also addressed the gathering.
Union representatives said that 108 and 102 ambulance employees in Himachal Pradesh were appointed by the Medswan Foundation under the National Health Mission in 2022. Prior to this, the workforce was employed by GVK Company since 2010. They alleged that during the transition between agencies, workers were denied retrenchment compensation, gratuity and other statutory benefits, while the Health Mission failed to intervene.
The union accused the employer of long-term exploitation of ambulance staff, alleging non-payment of prescribed minimum wages, 12-hour duty shifts without overtime compensation, and denial of weekly offs and leave. It further claimed that despite orders from the Himachal Pradesh High Court, Labour Court, CGM Court in Shimla and the Labour Department, the grievances of the workers remained unresolved.
Union leaders also alleged that employees faced mental harassment whenever they raised their demands. They said that even after two earlier one-day strikes, the company failed to implement minimum wage and overtime payments, leaving workers with no option but to intensify their agitation.
CITU district president Bhupender Singh warned that if the company did not comply with government norms related to wages, overtime, leave, vehicle maintenance, insurance, full salary during illness, and court and Labour Department orders—and if harassment of union leaders continued—the workers would be forced to launch an indefinite strike.
He also criticised the government’s move to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), calling it an attempt to suppress the legitimate demands of ambulance employees.
