Odisha government has introduced mandatory biometric attendance for all state employees, reinforcing its commitment to punctuality and administrative efficiency.
The directive, issued by the General Administration & Public Grievance Department, aims to curb late arrivals and absenteeism, ensuring that government offices operate with greater accountability.
Odisha government is considering the use of AI-powered cameras and RFID-enabled identity cards to further enhance attendance tracking.
The pilot phase will begin at Lok Seva Bhavan and Kharavel Bhavan, with plans for statewide expansion.
Implementation of Biometric Attendance Systems in Odisha
To enforce the new policy, all departments have been instructed to install biometric attendance systems where they are not already in place.
These systems will be linked to the Biometric Attendance System Portal, developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), allowing for fortnightly monitoring by designated officers.
Employees must record both “Office In” and “Office Out” times using biometric devices. Failure to log “Office Out” may be treated as absence for the day.
Strict Attendance Rules and Penalties
The government has outlined strict attendance regulations, including:
- Employees must report on time, with roster-based staff following specific schedules set by their Head of Office.
- A maximum delay of 30 minutes is allowed, condonable for up to three days per month. Beyond this, every three instances of late attendance will result in the deduction of one day’s Casual Leave (CL).
- Employees working late hours or on public holidays for official duties may be exempted from penalties with prior approval.
- Staff must be present for at least 7.5 hours per working day, except on days with notified morning-hour schedules.
Exemptions and Special Considerations
Certain employees are exempt from the biometric attendance mandate, including those working in the Secretariat of the Governor, Chief Minister’s Office, and Ministerial offices.
Additionally, employees on official tours or field assignments will not face penalties for non-recording of attendance, provided they have valid authorization.
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