The Chhattisgarh government today invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1979, (ESMA) as the strike by the workers of the Sanjeevani 108 ambulance and 102 Mahtari Express services entered the second week.
"Keeping in view the welfare of people, the government has imposed ESMA on emergency services 'Sanjeevani 108' ambulance and '102 Mahtari Express'," a government official said late this evening.
The striking workers will be sacked under the ESMA if they did not resume the duty, he added.
Employees of the 108 ambulance and 102 Mahtari Express services (which provide free transportation to pregnant women and children below the age of one year), comprising drivers and medical technicians, are on strike for the last seven days.
Their demands include recognition as government employees and fixed working hours.
