Jharkhand 108 ambulance staff to begin indefinite strike on 21 October after talks fail
Talks with Health Minister Irfan Ansari failed to settle all demands, so Jharkhand's 108 ambulance union will go on an indefinite statewide strike from 21 October.
Jharkhand's 108 ambulance employees have decided to go on an indefinite statewide strike from 21 October 2026 after talks with the government on Friday, 16 October, did not settle all their demands, ETV Bharat reported.
The talks were held in Namkum, Ranchi, and lasted about two hours. They were chaired by Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari. The union said the government accepted only one of its three main demands. The strike follows an earlier 40-hour work stoppage and a protest at the National Health Mission office.
Demands and positions
- Running the 108 service at district level through civil surgeons; the minister rejected handing operations to civil surgeons instead of a private agency.
- Reinstatement of dismissed employees.
- Payment of pending wages; the union says salaries have been unpaid since July 2026.
- Guarantee of labour and legal rights.
The company, Samman Foundation, presented proof of salary payments for July and August. The union called the documents fake and asked for verification. The minister criticised halting an essential service during Durga Puja and urged workers not to be used politically, according to the report.
Union state president Neeraj Tiwari said the agitation would continue as not all demands were agreed.
Why it matters for ambulance owners and drivers
Unpaid wages and contract disputes continue to threaten 108 services, which could push more patients toward private operators.
Read the full report at the source: ETV Bharat
This is a summary written by the Ambulance Owner Association. The facts are from the source named above.