Meghalaya 108 Ambulance Workers Oppose Potential Privatisation, Demand Government Takeover

Staff of Meghalaya's 108 emergency ambulance service have vehemently opposed "rumours" of the government planning to transfer operations to new private operators, insisting instead on direct state management.

The Meghalaya Emergency Management Research Institute Workers Union (MEMRIWU), which represents the employees, stated that it would reject any such privatisation efforts and renewed its call for the government to permanently assume control of the vital service.

In a statement released by union president Roypar Kharraswai, MEMRIWU warned that unilateral action by the government without meaningful dialogue would force them to initiate protests. The workers, the union said, have faced years of instability and hardship under the current setup.

From 2008 to 2022, the service was operated by a private firm, but the contract was ended due to reported irregularities. Since then, it has been provisionally run by the National Health Mission (NHM), leaving employees in a temporary status without standard benefits like Provident Fund contributions, medical insurance, Employees' State Insurance, or paid leave.

The union highlighted ongoing distress caused by these gaps and expressed frustration over broken promises from NHM officials to disburse salary increments and arrears ahead of Christmas, which have not materialised.

While the Health Minister has described the service as running smoothly, MEMRIWU countered that this success is solely due to the dedication of employees, who have persevered amid job insecurity and inadequate support. They stressed the critical role of the 108 service in delivering timely emergency care to the public.

Reiterating their appeals, the union urged the government to either fully integrate the service under direct state control or immediately regularise the employees' positions. MEMRIWU has called for urgent intervention from the Health Minister and Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma to address these longstanding concerns.

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