- Deputy Chief Minister Arun Saw hands over appointment letters to 44 handpump technicians; launches 1916 helpline for faster redressal of water-related complaints
TFP Bureau, Raipur, January 16, 2026: In a significant step towards strengthening rural drinking water services and improving grievance redressal, Deputy Chief Minister and Public Health Engineering Minister Shri Arun Saw on Friday presented appointment letters to 44 newly selected handpump technicians and launched a dedicated helpline number, 1916, for resolving drinking water-related problems across Chhattisgarh.
The appointment letters were distributed at a programme held at the Deputy Chief Minister’s residence-cum-office in Nava Raipur. The technicians were selected through a competitive examination conducted by the Chhattisgarh Professional Examination Board (Vyapam). Congratulating the appointees, Shri Saw wished them a successful career in public service and urged them to work with honesty, sensitivity and dedication.
Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the appointment letters marked the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the young technicians. He described the occasion as an emotional milestone not only for the appointees but also for their families, who had supported them through years of hard work and preparation. He reminded them that a government job is not the final destination but the first step in a long journey of responsibility, service and personal growth.
Shri Saw said the role of handpump technicians is crucial, particularly in rural and remote areas, where timely maintenance of water sources directly impacts the daily lives of people. He advised the technicians to treat citizens with respect, respond promptly to complaints and carry out their duties with integrity. Emphasising public service ethics, he said that honest work and humane behaviour are the foundations of good governance.
On the occasion, Shri Saw also launched the toll-free helpline number 1916, which will serve as a single-point contact for citizens to register complaints related to drinking water supply, handpumps and other water infrastructure. He said the new helpline has been introduced to ensure quicker response, better coordination and transparent resolution of water-related issues across the state.
Secretary of the Public Health Engineering Department Shri Mohammad Kaiser Abdulhaq informed that more than 29,000 tap water schemes have been sanctioned in Chhattisgarh under various programmes, of which over 7,000 have already been completed. He said the newly appointed technicians will play a key role at the grassroots level in maintaining water supply systems and ensuring uninterrupted services to the public.
Chief Engineer of the Public Health Engineering Department Shri Onkesh Chandravanshi also addressed the programme, highlighting the technical and social responsibilities associated with field-level postings. He encouraged the technicians to continuously upgrade their skills and work in close coordination with local communities.
The event underscored the state government’s focus on strengthening human resources and institutional mechanisms to deliver reliable drinking water services and improve citizen satisfaction across Chhattisgarh.
