CATS ambulance service hit after workers go on indefinite strike
The Delhi government’s Central Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) ambulance service was paralysed in all 11 zones of the capital on Monday, after 800 contractual drivers and paramedics went on an indefinite strike. The strike was over the Health department’s decision to start a public-private partnership (PPP) project, to help manage the expanded fleet without consulting the workers.
Health officials said provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) will be invoked on Tuesday if workers did not resume work. “Workers also damaged ambulances by deflating the tyres and taking out the batteries. We have filed complaints against the workers because they are obstructing emergency services. If they don’t resume work tomorrow, termination notices will be issued. We have also written to the Lt-Governor to invoke ESMA,” director of CATS Dr Vasantha Kumar N told Newsline.
Sources said barely 20 per cent of around 350 calls made for ambulances were responded by CATS and the rest diverted. However, CATS officials said no calls were turned down. Officials said the 3,000 average daily calls were diverted to the PCR as “other alternatives” were being worked out.
“We are running 25 ambulances with our regular employees. We have asked hospital ambulances to be on standby. We have also spoken to the DCP and ACP of PCR operations to request them for support,” Dr Kumar told Newsline.
President of the contractual employees association of CATS, Narender Lakra, said the union was forced to announce the strike because the Health department refused to stall the decision on the PPP till the Delhi elections were held.
“Why was the decision made to roll out the PPP so urgently just before the code of conduct was announced? We want them to hold the decision till a government is elected,” Lakra told Newsline.
CATS employees also demanded a roll back of the Express of Interest (EOI), introduced by the Health department last week, alleging a nexus between officials and private players.
“For 11 years we have been under contract and repeated promises to make us permanent have been ignored. Now, we are being handed over to private players with no prior consultation,” union member Ajit Singh said.
Dr Kumar, however, said, “The tender will be opened on February 13, after the elections, so workers should not have a problem. The PPP is a long-planned project to provide more efficient services. It has nothing to do with the code of conduct and employees should not be creating a problem at this stage.”
Till late on Monday, workers said they were demanding an early morning meeting on Tuesday with CATS officials and that the strike will not end.
Meanwhile, hospital authorities said they were using their own ambulances even for incoming services, with CATS’ calls being diverted to them.
Delhi Police said majority of CATS calls are diverted to PCR vehicles on a routine basis.
“We are providing PCR vehicles wherever necessary. On an average 55 per cent calls are diverted to PCR,” a senior officer said.
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