SHILLONG, Jan 19: Once again the voice of dissent of the employees of the GVK-Emergency Management and Research Institute (GVK-EMRI) has outpoured in the form of a protest rally on Tuesday as they demanded of the state government to take over its management citing multiple issues plaguing the organisation’s smooth functioning.
In a joint meeting in November, 2019, officials from GVK EMRI, Health Minister AL Hek, NGOs and employees of GVK had taken a decision to resume services of GVK EMRI 108 after agitations were held for most part of 2019 demanding hike in salary beside other demands.
The Meghalaya EMRI Worker Union (MEMRIWU) marched from Lawmali to Madan Student, Jaiaw, on Tuesday.
Informing that the contract between the state government and the GVK-EMRI will cease to exist after March, MEMRIWU president, Roypar Kharraswai, requested the state government to take over the services instead of outsourcing it to private companies.
In an attempt to justify their demand, the president said that if the emergency services are fully funded by the state government for its functioning, they may very well takeover.
Kharraswai further said that they will call for a strike to avail their demands, if there is a need to.
Highlighting the piteous state of affairs, Kharraswai said that out of the 43 ambulances, only seven are running as of today in a single shift while in states like Assam, the services took off with a fleet of 50 ambulances and has now risen to 600.
“Whereas the fleet of ambulances here has reduced from 43 to 23,” he added.
Meanwhile, Health Minister AL Hek said if the service of the GVK EMRI is not satisfactory, the government will definitely review and take a call.
He, however, pointed out that the state government has not received any complaints on the functioning and services of the emergency service.