Odisha cracks ESMA whip for smooth functioning of ambulance services  

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to ensure that medical ambulance services work 24/7, Odisha Government on Monday clamped restrictions on ‘strikes’ by workers by imposing ESMA.

ESMA (Orissa Essential Services Maintenance Act) was clamped for six months from Monday to ensure that the healthcare delivery system is not disrupted.

With ESMA coming into effect, any kind of strikes or cease work agitations by workers engaged in the emergency medical ambulance services either run by government or through agencies on PPP mode has been prohibited.

“In exercise of the power conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 3, 2 of Orissa Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1988 (Orissa Act 9 of 1992), the cessation of work by workers/ crew members by medical ambulance services including 108 and 102 has been prohibited,” read a notification issued by Special Secretary to Government Lalit Das.

Official sources said that workers or association or any members have been debarred from unauthorized absence from duty.

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