Jharkhand 108 ambulance staff warn of statewide strike from 18 November over unpaid wages

Employees of Jharkhand's 108 ambulance service have not received wages for three months and have warned of a statewide indefinite strike from 18 November 2026, according to a report in Prabhat Khabar dated 13 November.

The Jharkhand Pradesh Ambulance Karmchari Sangh said salaries for August to October 2026 are pending. The union blamed Samman Foundation, the agency that has run the 108 service since 5 February 2025, for arbitrary pay deductions. It has written to the National Health Mission (NHM) mission director demanding payment of dues, refund of earlier deductions and a high-level inquiry.

What the union alleges

• Wages are cut when an ambulance is off the road or when no calls come in.
• Some ambulances have been broken down for long periods but are shown as running on paper, according to the union.
• Some district managers are said to have pressed staff to repair vehicles with their own money and to create false case IDs.
• Payment records shown at a meeting on 16 October, chaired by the health minister, listed amounts of Rs 1.10 lakh to Rs 1.99 lakh per employee, but the union claims the money never reached staff bank accounts.

Union state president Neeraj Tiwari said the agitation had been put on hold until Chhath Puja after assurances from the Additional Chief Secretary, but the demands remain unmet. He said that if they are not met by 17 November, all 108 ambulance staff in the state will go on strike from 18 November.

Why it matters for ambulance owners and drivers

The report shows how wage deductions linked to vehicle downtime and delayed payments can affect crews. A strike could also disrupt 108 services in the state.