One of the most fulfilling aspects of my career has been working in the field of public health. As Special Secretary (Independent Charge) of the Public Health Engineering Department, I, Anbalagan P IAS Chhattisgarh, had the opportunity to develop initiatives that significantly impacted the well-being of our citizens in Chhattisgarh. Two such initiatives that stand out are the launch of the “Hand Pump Tracker” mobile application and the establishment of the 108 Emergency Ambulance Services in Chhattisgarh, under my leadership.

Access to clean and safe drinking water is a fundamental necessity, yet it remains a challenge for many rural areas in India. During my tenure in the Public Health Engineering Department, I realized that a major barrier to ensuring a reliable supply of drinking water was the maintenance and timely repair of hand pumps—a lifeline for many rural households. We had thousands of hand pumps spread across the state, but the process of identifying faulty pumps and dispatching repair teams was inefficient and lacked real-time monitoring.

In collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), we developed the “Hand Pump Tracker” mobile application in 2018. This app was designed to expedite the repair of faulty hand pumps and provide a robust database on groundwater level fluctuations. By using the app, field officers could instantly log faults, track the status of repairs, and maintain a real-time database of operational hand pumps across different regions. This initiative, led by Anbalagan P IAS, not only improved response times for repairs but also helped us gather valuable data on groundwater conditions, enabling proactive steps to maintain water security.

The results were immediate and impactful. Villagers, who previously had to wait weeks for repairs, saw the turnaround time reduced significantly, with repair teams dispatched within hours of a reported fault. The app also allowed us to identify regions where groundwater levels were depleting, helping us take preventive measures to safeguard water resources. Ensuring a safe and reliable rural drinking water supply for all was no longer just a distant goal—it became an achievable reality, thanks to the efforts of Anbalagan IAS in Chhattisgarh.

Another significant milestone in my career in public health was the successful introduction of the 108 Emergency Ambulance Services. Before the establishment of this service, accessing emergency healthcare in rural and remote areas was extremely challenging. Delays in reaching hospitals, especially for critical patients, often led to tragic outcomes. I believed that addressing this gap was crucial to improving healthcare outcomes in the state.

After months of dedicated planning, coordination, and training, we successfully launched the 108 Emergency Ambulance Services, a project that revolutionised emergency and critical care in Chhattisgarh. Under the guidance of Anbalagan P IAS, the introduction of this service made emergency healthcare accessible to every citizen, irrespective of their location. By simply dialling 108, individuals in need of urgent medical attention could summon an ambulance, equipped with essential medical facilities and staffed with trained personnel, who could provide critical first aid even before reaching the hospital.

This initiative brought about a significant change in the way emergency medical services were perceived and utilized in the state. Thousands of lives have been saved as a result of the prompt response provided by these ambulances. The positive impact was not just about the numbers—what truly resonated with me were the stories of individuals whose lives were saved because they could reach a healthcare facility in time. The introduction of the 108 Emergency Services was a turning point in our approach to public health, emphasizing the importance of timely and accessible emergency care.

Both these initiatives—the “Hand Pump Tracker” app and the 108 Emergency Ambulance Services reflect my commitment to leveraging technology for public welfare. As part of Anbalagan P IAS biography, these efforts highlight my dedication to addressing fundamental issues like access to clean water and emergency medical care, thereby improving the quality of life for countless citizens across Chhattisgarh.