BANGALORE: Health and family welfare minister U T Khader on Monday announced that fresh recruitment will be made to run 108 ambulance services.
Replying to BasavarajHoratti (JDS) and ArunShahpur (BJP), Khader told the legislative council that if RakshaKavacha (108 ambulance) drivers don’t withdraw strike, the GVK-EMRI company will go ahead with new recruitment. “The company has already recruited around 350 staff nurse (EMT) and 410 drivers (pilots) through direct interview. The company will soon issue advertisements in districts to recruitment more staff nurses and pilots,” the minister said.
This apart, wherever there is shortage of pilots, KSRTC drivers have been pressed into service to keep 108 ambulance service going.
On the strike undertaken by the staff demanding various things from the government, Khader said a total of 517 ambulances are into service and a total of 2,666 staff are working in it. “Staff nurse are getting a starting monthly salary of Rs 8,574 and pilots are paid Rs 8,173 monthly by the company,” he said.
He said though government has partnered with GVK-EMRI for the ambulance service, it has not recruited the staff. “So the question of regularizing the protesting staff does not arise at all,” Khader said.
