Bhubaneswar: Acknowledging the emergency service done by the 108 Ambulance crew on a 24X7 basis, especially during the pandemic/disaster situations; and to motivate the staff to continue to hard work in challenging circumstances; and taking into account the representations made by the crew members, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday approved provision of a Special Allowance out of State fund for Ambulance staff at the rate of Rs 5,000 per month to Driver and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Rs 3,000 per month to helpers from February 2024. This will be in addition to their existing basic salary (as per the applicable minimum wage rate).
The Emergency Medical Ambulance Service has been a lifeline for the people of Odisha since March 2013. Presently the 108 Ambulance Service is operational with a fleet of 1,366 Ambulances including 411 ALS Ambulances and 6 Boat Ambulances. The 108 Ambulance fleet provides emergency care and transportation to about 1.3 lakh patients every month.
The 108 Ambulance crew (Driver, Emergency Medical Technician & Helper) work very hard in adverse conditions involving difficult working hours.
The extraordinary services rendered by them during natural calamities, accidents and the Covid pandemic are a testament to their dedication, and this has also been acknowledged by the government from time to time.
Presently the Driver, Helper and EMT of the 108 Ambulances are paid basic salary as per the Minimum Wages Act. The Driver and EMT are classified as skilled workers and the helper as unskilled workers for minimum wages.
Recently, the Ambulance crew had submitted representations to Chairman 5T and Nabin Odisha V K Pandian during his district visits, for an increase in remuneration, taking into account their difficult working hours and the emergency nature of work.
