Chief Secretary directed to make the system full proof with least response time
Bhubaneswar (Kalinga Voice) : As another outcome of the application of 5-T principles in citizen centric Governance, the unified emergency call number (112) has been functionalised in the State. This was known from a high level review meeting held on digital mode under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Sri Suresh Chandra Mahapatra from Lokseba Bhawan conference hall wherein Additional Chief Secretary Home Sri Sanjeev Chopra outlined the field level implementation issues for discussion.
Looking into readiness of the system, Chief Secretary Sri Mahapatra directed to make emergency response system full proof with least response time. He emphasized upon minimizing the response time between the receipt of a call and reaching of the vehicle at service delivery point. In the first stage, the emergency call number 100 and 101 of police and fire service have been integrated with the unified number 112. Chief Secretary directed the home department to undertake continuous and extensive awareness activities about the new unified number so that people could make use of the system.
The issues relating to integration of 108 ambulance services with the new number was discussed in the meeting. Chief Secretary directed to be extra careful regarding service delivery during the process of transition from 108 to 112. Director National Health Mission Mrs Shalini Pandit appraised that on an average around 30,000 calls per day were being received through 108 out of which more than 20,000 calls related to ambulance service only. Considering importance of the ambulance service at critical hours of life, Chief Secretary Sri Mahapatra directed to make the new system fully equipped both in terms of technology, manpower and real time location monitering of the ambulances. He further directed to appropriately train the personnel at call center for handling 108 calls and proving immediate service to the people. With stabilization of the new unified system , emergency help line numbers of other departments would be integrated with it in phases.
Additional Chief Secretary Sri Chpora appraised that the State emergency response center (SERC) is now functioning round the clock with 124 call takers with computers aided digitized systems and 551 vehicles for providing services. In the month of August 2021 a total number of 8708 calls were registered in the call center out of which 7957 related to police services 585, related to fire services and 166 calls were provided services through the call center itself. Besides, 1915 calls were forwarded to ambulance services. It was decided that more number of vehicles would be hired for providing immediate emergency services to the people. Director General of Police Sri Abhaya, Additional Chief Secretray Home Sri Sanjeev Chopra, Director National Health Mission Smt Salini Pandit, D. G. Fire Sevices Sri M.Akshaya, Special Secretary Home Smt Santosh Bala, along with senior officers of concerned departments participated in the deliberations.
