Karnataka’s 108 ambulance service faces a potential disruption from Wednesday night after drivers and emergency medical technicians threatened to resign over salary, job security and working-condition demands. The employees’ association has set an 8 pm deadline for the company and state government to respond.
Around 3,200 people work in the ambulances operated by GVK EMRI Health Services, including drivers, first health responders and attendants. The Karnataka Rajya Aarogya Kavacha 108 Employees’ Association has demanded salary revisions in line with appointment letters, uniform pay, seniority-based salary fixation, job security and improved working conditions.
Association president Paramashiva said the company had rejected the demands, following which the workers approached the state government. The association said the government promised to hold discussions but did not accept the demands.
“We have given them until 8 pm on Wednesday. If they don’t meet our demands, we will resign,” Paramashiva said. He added that workers were prepared to leave the service and seek employment elsewhere if their concerns were not addressed.
The dispute places the continuity of a public emergency response service at the centre of a disagreement between contracted workers, the private operator and the state government. Although the ambulances are used for government-supported emergency response, the workers are employed by GVK EMRI, a distinction highlighted by Health Minister U T Khader.
Khader said the government would not give in to what he described as “blackmail tactics” and urged people to explore alternatives to the 108 ambulance service for the next two months. He said the workers were employees of GVK EMRI rather than the government and should take their employment-related concerns to the company.
The minister added that the health department would intervene if the company failed to meet its commitments. “If the service is affected and any patient faces serious problems, we will initiate action against GVK,” he said.
The association has also announced a protest at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park from Thursday morning, with workers planning to continue the demonstration until their demands are addressed. The immediate question is whether the threatened resignations will affect ambulance availability and emergency response times across Karnataka.
The dispute also highlights the operational responsibility created when essential public services are delivered through private contractors. The government has indicated that it expects the company to address the workers’ demands, while retaining the option of action if patients face serious problems.
The association’s deadline is 8 pm on Wednesday, after which the workers have said they will resign. The planned Freedom Park protest is scheduled to begin on Thursday morning.
