It was meant to be a system that would allow more careful monitoring of the punctuality record of staff at the Bangalore University. What wasn’t exactly anticipated, though, was the stiff resistance that the move has met.
Vice-chancellor N Prabhu Dev had earlier taken the decision to introduce a biometric device at postgraduate departments of Jnana Bharathi and Central College, to keep tabs on the attendance and punctuality record of staff.
The device would also be installed at the office of the vice-chancellor. The process of installing the system had been nearly completed, but in the face of stiff resistance from the faculty, the plan was shelved.
A senior official at the university said, “The process was almost over, but faculty members did not let us implement it.”
The tender process for the installation of the devices was completed. Only implementation remained. Many faculty members, however, said that they would not accept the system, and insisted on retaining the system of marking attendance with manual signing of registers.
“We wanted to instal bio-metric devices to bring discipline among staff. But they did not allow us to implement it. Even the vice-chancellor would not have been exempted,” said an official.
Had the system been implemented, late-comers would be required to provide an explanation for their tardiness.
“For many employees, arriving late has become a matter of habit. To impose punctuality, we had thought of introducing the biometric system. Otherwise half the salary for that particular day would be deducted,” an official explained.
Many faculty members threatened that they would protest if the biometric system was implemented on campus. “There were threats of protests, and we cannot take such a step without the support of employees. So we have now decided to put the whole thing on hold,” an official said.
Bangalore University has more than 40 post-graduate departments. More than 1,500 employees work at the university.
“Most of the teaching faculty is hired on a temporary/part-time basis. So it is necessary to keep an eye on attendance. If the bio-metric system was installed, it would make the task of maintaining a record of attendance that much easier, for both permanent as well as temporary and part-time staff,” an official said.
