Two machines installed in the Agriculture directorate. Staff fear machines can spread Covid-19
At a time when the Union government in its directive has given an exemption to the employees from marking their attendance in the biometric systems so that the infection of Covid-19 is contained, the agriculture directorate here has installed new biometric machines and directed its staff to compulsorily mark their attendance on them.
The hundred odd staff of the Nanda Ki Chowki based directorate now fear that the new machines can become an agent of spreading infection. It is learnt that the director Gauri Shankar was not happy when during a sudden inspection on August 4 he noticed that many employees were not present on their seats. This prompted the director to issue an order on the same day in which he said that it had come to his notice that many staff members are coming to the office well after 10 am and are leaving the offices before 5 pm. Gauri Shankar directed deputy director Human Resource (HR) to ensure that two biometric machines are installed in the directorate for marking attendance.
On the orders of the directors the machines were installed on August 5 in the office. “ We tried to reason with our officers that time is not proper to install new biometric machines as they can become an agent of spreading infection of Covid-19 but they refused to heed to our request. In order to force us to use these machines they have removed the attendance register. Who would be held accountable if the virus spreads in our office?’’ asked an employee of the directorate.
When contacted the newly appointed secretary of the Agriculture and horticulture, Harbans Singh Chug said that he is not aware about the issue and would look into it.