Many trauma service ambulances have been off-road since they were denied fuel over non-payment of dues
Two days after DNA reported that most of the Delhi government's Central Accident and Trauma Service ambulances are off-road due to lack of fuel, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met BVG (private agency managing the ambulances) officials on Wednesday.
The move came after National Human Rights Commission, taking a suo-moto cognisance of the DNA report, sent a notice to the state government on Tuesday, seeking a detailed report on the depleting fleet within four weeks. The NHRC also asked the government to provide the steps taken by the government to make 'services accessible to the common citizens by ensuring full operation of the entire fleet of CATS ambulances'.
"Our Vice President, NK Rawat, and CMD Hanmat Rai Gaikwad, went to meet the Chief Minister and Satyender Jain to discuss the issues we are facing in terms of non-payment of dues from the government. We still have about 45 ambulances off road due to engines not working; this is a sabotage of contract with the CATS," said Dr Nivedita Patnaik, Manager of Operations, BVG.
The company has also written a letter to the Chief Minister asking to release dues considering the poor health of ambulances. The company alleges that the penalty clause is so harsh that even if they plan to operate 80 per cent of the total fleet, BVG will still be penalised. "We were handed over a total of 632 contractual staff, who caused indsicipline and enforced nine strikes. The health of 155 ambulances was in bad shape. Four managers of BVG were physically assaulted and almost beaten to death," stated the letter.
The staff, however, said that they have been getting late payments and no facilities ever since BVG took over.
"Most of us get Rs 2,000-3,000 arbitrarily deducted from our salaries. When questioned, drivers are told it is because the vehicle is not giving the desired average; the staff is accused of stealing masks/gloves from the vehicles, which are not even present in the vehicles most of the time," said a CATS ambulance pilot on the condition of anonymity.
The shortage of fuel had halted CATS ambulances in the Capital with nearly 130 vehicles being denied fuel and another 45 unfit to be on the roads. Sources had confirmed that the vehicles were being denied fuel at the petrol-pumps due to non-payment of over Rs 45 lakh till late Monday.
WHOM TO BELIEVE?
- The company has also written a letter to the Chief Minister asking to release dues considering the poor health of ambulances.
- The company alleges that the penalty clause is so harsh that even if they plan to operate 80 per cent of the total fleet, BVG will still be penalised.
- The staff, however, said that they have been getting late payments and no facilities ever since BVG took over. Most of them allegedly get Rs 2,000-3,000 arbitrarily deducted from salaries.
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