MCH creates helpline to receive public complaints

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JULY 9. Tired of losing your cool to the indifference of the MCH in tackling the usual civic problems?. Don't panic. Call the helpline (7804012) which was created recently following the posting of Mr. R.V. Chandravadan, IAS, as the Additional Commissioner, Secunderabad zone. He is the first cadre officer to hold the post.

Name any problem-- removal of garbage, checking mosquitoes, improper sweeping of roads, water stagnation, lifting of mud and overflow of stormwater drains--the helpline has a ready answer.

The helpline, started about two months ago, is manned by women working in two shifts--9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2 p.m.to 6 p.m. They not only maintain a public grievance register, but also refer the problem to the officer concerned. The women also inform the complainant of the action taken on the grievance.

Details like name of the complainant, the mode of complaint, his or her address, to whom the complaint has been referred and the action taken by the civic body are compiled in the register. The complaints are also given acknowledgements.

Mr. Chandravadan, who on taking over charge, noticed that there was no prompt response to public complaints and that the grievance-handling machinery was lacking, hit upon the idea of launching the helpline.

For this, several women, working as class-IV staff, have been identified and motivated to take up the task. They are doing a good job of attending to the complaints, both on telephone and in writing.

And surprise of surprises, the civic officials are getting laudatory letters and greeting cards for their good work, which was virtually unthinkable till the recent past. This is what Ms. Padmavathi of New Bhoiguda and Mr. Krishnakumar of Bhoiguda did.

Their letters, with all praise, have become proud possessions of the Additional Commissioner's staff. They had complained about blocking of stormwater drain and piling of garbage (which remained uncleared for over a fortnight) respectively. Both are happy with the response of the MCH.

The Additional Commissioner, who has clear plans to improve the image of the civic body and make its work transparent and accountable, is keen that people ventilate their grievances. On his agenda is a citizen's charter.

He told The Hindu on Monday that public could approach him (tel: no 7804022, cell 98490-04507), or the Executive Engineer, Mr. A. Vijayraj (tel: no.7803321, cell 98490-06023) or the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Lakshma Reddy (tel: no 7804481, cell 98490-06074). Written complaints could also be submitted to these officials.

The engineering wing has created a night emergency cell on June 9 to attend to the complaints of rain water stagnation. The staff, with a tipper at their disposal, work from 2 p.m.to 10 p.m.

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