Shillong, Sept 23: The Meghalaya Emergency Management and Research Institute Workers’ Union (MEMRIWU) on Monday alleged that the state government has failed to end the ongoing stalemate between the workers and the management of GVK EMRI, and threatened to intensify their agitation.

The Union said that the management of GVK EMRI has again deducted the field staff’s salary despite the state government’s direction to maintain status quo.

Addressing reporters, president of the Union, R. Kharraswai demanded from the state government to come up with a solution, otherwise, the workers would be compelled to intensify agitations.

Kharraswai informed that the state government had constituted a high level committee to look into the 36-point of demands which include enhancement of salary, increasing manpower and ambulances.

He said the state government has also directed both the parties to maintain status quo pending solution.

“However, the management of GVK EMRI has suddenly deducted the salary of over 70 field staff for participating in the strike, without issuing any notice,” he said.

He said that the Union had raised the issue before the committee demanding that the management should refund the amount deducted from the salary during a meeting held on August 5.

However, nothing has been done to address the problem even after a deadline of two months has lapsed, Kharraswai said.

He informed that due to inaction of the state government, the management has again deducted the salary of over 200 field staff ranging from Rs 1,300 to Rs 5,000 which has affected them.

Moreover, he alleged that the management has also formed an anti-union group comprising of 15 field staff to divide the workers. According to him, this anti-union group has also urged the state government not to terminate the contract with the GVK EMRI.

The Union has urged the state government to take over emergency services under its care and remove the GVK EMRI and the government should ensure that all workers are absorbed by the State health department.

A field staff from Garo Hills, Sabita D Sangma said that the 14 ambulances sanctioned for five districts of the region are all in bad conditions.

“There is no delivery kit being provided and there is oxygen shortage which puts precious lives at stake. I wish the state government to look into our grievances as we really want to provide better services to the people especially the poor,” she said.