Patna: Emergency response services under Bihar’s Dial 112 were brought to a halt in Patna on Monday as drivers launched a two-day strike, pressing for a series of demands including a salary hike and improved working conditions.
Around 124 vehicles and more than 400 drivers attached to police stations across the district remained off duty, according to the drivers’ association. Its president, Chandan Kumar, and vice-president, Dheeraj Kumar Yadav, said that while drivers were recruited on a monthly pay of Rs 25,000, their wages have risen by only Rs 750 since their induction.
The leaders claimed that at the time of recruitment, assurances were made regarding duty postings within 10 to 15 kilometres of drivers’ homes, annual leave of 20 days, weekly rest days and insurance coverage. “None of these commitments have been honoured,” Kumar said.
Striking drivers also raised concerns over working conditions for women, alleging that they were being harassed and compelled to work 12-hour shifts, often while caring for young children. “This is nothing short of a Tughlaq decree,” Yadav said, referring to arbitrary and harsh working rules.
Dial 112, Bihar’s integrated emergency response service, had appointed ex-servicemen on a contractual basis in January 2022 to strengthen policing and public safety. Since then, 15 drivers have reportedly died in service, but colleagues allege that families of the deceased have not received welfare or compensation.
