HT Digital,
GUWAHATI, Dec 1: Emergency medical services across Assam came to a standstill on May 4 after employees of the 108 Mrityunjoy ambulance service launched an indefinite statewide strike in Guwahati, demanding job regularisation, fair wages, and payment of long-pending overtime dues. The disruption began when hundreds of workers from multiple districts gathered at Chachal, forcing ambulance operations to remain suspended across the state.
According to the All Assam 108 Mrityunjoy Employee Association, the strike follows years of unmet promises despite repeated pleas to the government. Workers said they had approached senior officials and even the Chief Minister several times, but their concerns were left unaddressed. Many of them have been part of the service since its launch and say they continue to work under insecure contracts and low pay.
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Kuladhar, the chief organising secretary of the association, said they were hailed as frontline workers during the Covid years, yet their pay still mirrors that of factory labour. He added that staff work 12-hour shifts while being paid for only 10, violating basic labour norms.
The employees are now pushing for full government control of the service, regularisation of nearly 3,000 workers, fair wages at par with highly skilled employees, full overtime payments, annual bonuses, and access to government welfare schemes such as Apon Ghar and Seuji Ghar. They also pointed to the state’s failure to honour earlier assurances, including a wage revision announced on August 4.
Working president (in-charge) Fajnur Rahman dismissed claims that the agitation is politically influenced ahead of the 2025 Assembly polls, stressing that their demands have remained unchanged for 17 years. He reiterated that the law mandates overtime beyond eight hours, yet workers continue to be denied rightful compensation.
Association president Pranjal Sharma criticised the government’s reluctance to hold talks, saying the Chief Minister’s stance of “no dialogue during protests” goes against democratic norms. He warned that emergency services would remain suspended until the government initiates meaningful discussions.
The strike has sparked concerns over emergency response in Assam, with the shutdown of 108 services placing added pressure on hospitals and local healthcare systems.
