Not on strike, but need a culture of trust: Delhi IAS officers
New Delhi, June 17: Denying the AAP government's allegation that they are on strike, the Delhi IAS Association on Sunday said they are totally neutral towards all political parties but they need a "culture of trust" to work.
"Cameras and recording cannot ensure my security. No one has assured us of our security and safety. There has been no attempt from the government to reach out to us so that we can feel safe," IAS Association Secretary Manisha Saxena told the media here.
"We all had various experiences of assault. We will not attend a meeting if we are not feeling safe. We have gone out of the way to ensure that public do not suffer, their work does not suffer, but we will not work at the cost of our life.
"We don't go to places where we don't feel safe. We need a culture of trust to work," she said.
The officers said they are feeling unsafe after the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash.
"If the Chief Secretary can go for a meeting late at night, that shows our commitment level. But we have to also look for our safety and self-defence," said a member of the association.
Transport Commissioner Varsha Joshi, without naming the Aam Aadmi Party, said "the political party handle is making a personal comment on me."
"We are forced to bring things in public domain... it is very sad. Please don't use us for political ends," she said.
The officials said they are working overtime to ensure proper service to people.
On the issue of work being hampered due to the sit-in by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers at the Raj Niwas, Joshi said: "Several meetings planned for last week by the Ministers were cancelled due to their sit-in."
Meanwhile, the IAS Officers' Association of AGMUT cadre also termed as "misinformation" the claim that they were on strike.
"The IAS Association of AGMUT cadre strongly refutes the misinformation and false campaign against the IAS officers in Delhi being on strike.
"We reiterate that all our officers and officials, all IAS officers, are working with full vigour and dedication," the Association from Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, Union Territories (excluding Andaman & Nicobar) (AGMUT) cadre said in a statement.
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Woman in labour dies while being transported in ambulance lacking oxygen support
Palghar (PTI): A 26-year-old pregnant woman from Maharashtra's Palghar district died while being taken to hospital in an ambulance which was not equipped with oxygen and other necessary facilities, authorities said on Wednesday.
Palghar's Civil Surgeon Dr Ramdas Marad said the health department has repeatedly raised concerns with authorities about the lack of specialised ambulances in the region.
The woman, who was in labour pain, was brought to a rural hospital here in a critical state on Tuesday evening.
"If she had come earlier, we could have saved her," the health official said.
Palghar Lok Sabha member Dr Hemant Savara said the health department should take necessary action into the matter and ambulance services should have adequate facilities.
Pinki Dongarkar, resident of Sarni village, went into labour on Tuesday evening.
Her family immediately rushed her to Kasa rural hospital, but due to the critical nature of her condition, the staff there referred her to neighbouring Silvassa city (in the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu) for further medical attention.
However, despite frantic attempts by her family to secure an ambulance equipped with oxygen and necessary medical facilities through the '108' emergency service, their requests went unanswered, a health official said.
They were eventually provided with a regular ambulance by the Kasa rural hospital.
While en route to Silvassa, the woman succumbed to complications and the foetus also did not survive, health officials confirmed.
Dr Marad said the woman was brought to the Kasa rural hospital in a critical state.
According to him, the woman suffered from a condition called Intrauterine Fetal Death (IUFD), where the foetus died in the womb. The exact time of the foetal death could not be determined.
Upon arrival at the hospital, the woman was semi-conscious and showed signs of severe infection.
On issues with the 108 emergency ambulance services, which are privately operated, Dr Marad said the ambulance might have been unavailable due to high demand.
The health department has repeatedly raised concerns with authorities about the lack of specialised ambulances in the region, he said.
Talking to PTI, Palghar BJP MP Savara said, "This is a very sad incident. The health department should take necessary action in this connection. Also, such an incident should not happen in future for this reason."
"The ambulance services should have adequate oxygen and cardiac support facilities. Also, a doctor is required to accompany the patient. I will follow it up with the government," he said.
CPI (M) leader Vinod Nikole, the newly-elected assembly member from Dahanu in Palghar, said he had raised the issue in the House during his last term, but no action was taken.
He criticised the government over "indifference" towards improving healthcare facilities, particularly in tribal areas, and accused the state of prioritising other programmes, such as the Ladki Bahin Yojana, over the urgent needs of healthcare in rural regions.
