No review of biometric attendance for Dalits

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, October 21

The state government appears in no mood to review its decision to make biometric attendance compulsory for Dalit students availing scholarships.

Sources said, “Dalit organisations have submitted representation opposing selective attendance. However, the decision has not been reviewed.”

On the other hand, Dalit students continue to protest against the move. Dr Rajinder Badguzar, in charge of the SC Students Welfare Cell at RKSD College, Kaithal, said the college had started taking biometric attendance causing resentment among Dalit students.

Dr RP Saini, general secretary of the Haryana College Teachers Association, (HCTA) termed the state government’s decision as discriminatory.

He said, “Either all students should be asked to mark their attendance through the biometric machine or it should be rolled back altogether.”

On the contrary, an official, said, “Biometric attendance will help prevent individuals take undue financial benefits by enrolling fraudulently at more than one college. Colleges have been asked to install biometric machines to mark attendance for smooth disbursement of scholarships which would be debited in the bank accounts of beneficiaries linked with Aadhar.”

On September 1, The Tribune had reported on an order issued by the Department for Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Class Department on August 18 which stated Dalit students who do not mark their attendance would be deprived of their scholarships.