The say 12 baje tak late nahi, 2 baje ke baad bhent nahi, has now become an old adage for the Government employees in Jharkhand, particularly for the Secretariat staff after the introduction of Aadhaar enabled biometric attendance system, a brain child of the former Chief Secretary RS Sharma.
The staff here, unlike before are now bound to maintain their in and out timings to ensure that they are not marked absent for not maintaining the official time. Unlike a few months back before Biometric attendance system was introduced at the Secretarial Building and all staff are now seen hurriedly heading towards the biometric machines, wearing a time conscious face and queuing up to punch their attendance.
Thanks to Sharma for introducing the system which has improved the work culture in the Government offices.
“It’s a very positive concept, people are now at least coming to the offices on time which automatically enable them to contribute more towards their work as they have to remain in the offices till 6 pm to punch their out time,” said Deputy Secretary of Food and Civil Supplies Department Alok Trivedi.
Besides, it also gives a sense of satisfaction among the staff for getting connected with the modern technology, said Trivedi.
“With the introduction of five-day week in the Government offices, people are getting one day spare time for their family, who can now devote more time and energy towards their work in the office enthusiastically,” Trivedi said. Thanks to the former chief secretary who took initiatives to introduce the system in the State, he added. Sharma is now the IT secretary in the Union Government.
It is a relief for the mid-level employees in the Government offices also as senior officers, unlike before, are now found to be available in their chambers.
“There is definitely a change in the work culture at the Government offices as everyone has to be present on time and be available on their tables. Earlier, as many of the employees were generally not seen in the Government offices, which used to create extra burden on those who were present in the office,” said an IT department employee Shirin.
Some of the people opposing the system in the beginning have gradually started accepting this modern
technology. “Since, both in and out timings are recorded in the machine, it was not getting a wide acceptance as people are in the habit of being liberal who do not want to remain in binding,” said Network Engineer of JHARNET, Sangeet Kumar.
As the system got booming response, it will soon be rolled out in the other districts across the State. Presently, over 400 biometric attendance machines have been installed in Ranchi and some of its adjoining districts.
Daily attendance of each individual employee has also been made available on the wwwaadhaar.jharkhand.gov.in from where any information related to an employee’s leave or attendance could be obtained.
As per the records maintained by the IT department which is available on the site also, 31 percent employees punched their attendance before 10:00 am, 54 per cent from 10:00 - 10:30 am, and 9 per cent between 10:30 – 11:00 am, while only 6 per cent of the employees registered their attendance after 11:00 am on Tuesday.
Since Sharma took charge as Chief Secretary on April 1, 2013, he took several initiatives to bring changes for improving the work culture as well as the working environment in the government offices so that the overall efficiency of the government could be enhanced.