Why Rohtak made biometric attendance mandatory for govt employees

The non-availability of government employees during office hours has been a common complaint among citizens. At times, officials remain out for official duties, but on some occasions, they also remain unavailable without a valid reason, causing inconvenience to visitors. People often have to wait for a long time due to lack of information about the officer concerned whereabouts. Taking serious note of it, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sachin Gupta has issued directions to ensure that all government employees remain present in their offices during working hours. He has also instructed that whenever an employee goes out for any reason (official or personal), it must be properly recorded. These directions are considered vital for improving accountability and ensuring timely public service delivery.

What new direction has been given to government employees in Rohtak?

The DC has directed all heads of government departments in Rohtak to implement biometric attendance twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening. All officers and employees must ensure their presence in the office during working hours. The DC has also made it clear that salaries will now be paid on the basis of biometric attendance, linking punctuality directly to payment.

Why did the DC issue this direction?

The DC issued this directive after observing that many officials/ employees were not marking their biometric attendance within prescribed office timings. He stated that such indiscipline was unacceptable and adversely affected the functioning of government offices. Therefore, all officials have been directed to mark their biometric attendance sharply at 9 am and 5 pm on every working day. The new directions have created a stir among the employees who have been irregular or lax about their duties.

How will it benefit people?

The introduction of biometric attendance will help make the government employees more punctual and accountable, thereby improving the overall efficiency of government offices. It will ensure that the officials remain available during office hours and that the citizens receive timely and hassle-free services without unnecessary waiting or delays.

What is the status of biometric machines in Rohtak?

Although the biometric machines are available with almost all government offices in Rohtak district, they are not being used regularly by the employees. Due to the lack of strict enforcement earlier, many offices had taken biometric attendance lightly. However, following the new directions from the DC, heads of local offices have begun implementing the biometric attendance to avoid any administrative action. The heads have been given a one-week time to ensure that adequate biometric attendance machines are installed in every office and that all devices are fully functional.

What other directions have been issued by the DC?

Apart from the biometric attendance order, the DC has also directed all departments to prepare proper field-work schedules to ensure that the citizens visiting offices do not face any inconvenience. He instructed that whenever an officer or employee goes out on field duty, they must record the details in the movement register. In addition, the DC has issued a separate directive to chemists, instructing them not to sell medicines without a valid prescription. He emphasised that chemists must issue bills for all medicines sold and stamp medical cards to maintain accurate records and prevent the misuse of medicines.