Rohit Shishodia
Members of the Centralized Accident Trauma Services union, who have been on strike for the last twenty days in Delhi, have sought permission from India’s President Ram Nath Kovind to put an end to their lives.

Around 1500 workers of CATS have been on indefinite strike against privatization of ambulance services, contractual system, exploitation and non-payment of salary for the last three months. The agitated workers have urged President Kovind that they should be allowed to end their lives as their demands or issues remain unfulfilled.

In a letter to the President, the union has stated that CATS staff has been exploited for three years under the contract system. “Employees who raise issue of salary reduction and untimely payment are harassed in various ways. This issue has been raised before administration of CATS but no attention was paid to us. CATS has become place of corruption due to nexus between contractual company and officials associated with CATS,” reads the letter to the President.

Due to exploitation and not being heard, around 1500 CATS staff has been on strike since June 30, 2019, but no one is listening to their demands at any level. The strike has been joined by the family members of agitated staff. “We request you to permit us wish death due to non-listening of our demands. Delhi government and CATS administration will be responsible for our deaths,” says the ominous letter.