Mangaluru: Minister for Health and Family Welfare UT Khader said that the government is committed to reaching out to the most remote areas, through the 108 ambulance service despite threatening from the staff.
It may be recalled that the 108 ambulance staff had threatened to go on a strike demanding pay hike as they have been working for 12 hours instead of 8 hours.
Shedding light on this, Khader said that he agreed to their decision to work for 12 hours keeping in mind their humble backgrounds and also the fact that they do not have more than three trips a day.
He pointed out that the Ambulance Staff Federation knew that the salary had been revised and yet they kept everyone in the dark so as to misguide the ambulance workers at the grassroot level.
Khader informed that the government had sanctioned the hike to those workers who adhered to a few conditions laid by the government which requires the ambulance drivers to be shaved, wear white coats and shoes and ensure cleanliness of the ambulance.
“They are supposed to sign a form stating that the will abide by all the conditions. The ones who have signed the forms have got their pay hike,” he said adding that the increased salary costs the State exchequer Rs 6.64 crore a year.
For those not abiding by the conditions, Khader said, will be replaced to ensure that the public gets good service.
