Employees say system introduced this month just another example of university authorities becoming control freaks of late At a time when employees of the University of Pune (UoP) are upset with the administration over recent moves that they term authoritarian, the university has introduced another measure to keep track of the staff. Installation of biometric attendance system is the new decision that has become a talking point, and it comes after some recent unpopular moves by top officials such as a media gag on staff and restrictions on study leaves. <img alt="" src="/imagedata/2011/jul/biometric-attendance.jpg" border="5" /> Marking presence: The biometric attendance system at work. Pic/Krunal Gosavi With the biometric attendance system, the entry and exit time of all staffers will be electronically monitored. Though this announcement was expected, as most government offices, hospitals, colleges and other institutions have already moved to biometric attendance, employees said that it would become annoying if a few minutes delays would be treated as a half-day absence or result in negative remarks in the performance appraisals. "It is just another way of having greater control on us. We just hope that a few minutes' delay doesn't get counted against us after this system becomes fully functional," said a staffer from the exam department. Registrar M L Jadhav said that though the biometric attendance system was introduced on July 1, it was yet to get implemented properly. "We are facing some initial technical problems and that's why currently we are only recording partial attendance with the new system and partially doing it manually. By the end of July, the system will be in full-fledged operation and later we will be able to assess if efficiency and accountability of employees improves or doesn't improve after introduction of this system," he said. Elsewhere, no probs Organisations that have implemented the biometric attendance system say that it works wonders in improving the productivity of employees. Principal Shrikant Gupta of Abasaheb Garware College said that the system was operational since March in the institution. "I can say that the system has definitely improved the productivity and the teachers are more regular. They are punctual and more sincere, as it's compulsory for them to stay in for a minimum of five hours," said Gupta. At Fergusson College, where the system was adopted in April, Principal R B Pardeshi said teachers had become more cautious. Even at the Pune Municipal Corporation, where it was implemented in April, Deputy Commissioner Kundalik Karkar said that efficiency had improved. "Firstly, it helps to do away with the myth that all government employees come and go according to their wish. And secondly, the results are visible. The employees are more seriously oriented towards their work and especially careful that they punch themselves in on time as they know that all data is electronic and cannot be fudged," said Karkar.

Employees say system introduced this month just another example of university authorities becoming control freaks of late

Hullabaloo over UoP biometric attendance system

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Hullabaloo over UoP biometric attendance system

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