Government of Odisha has announced the deployment of AI-powered surveillance cameras across state offices to monitor employee attendance, performance, and workplace conduct.
The initiative, unveiled during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, is part of a broader strategy to improve governance, curb absenteeism, and strengthen institutional integrity.
The rollout will begin at Lok Seva Bhawan and Kharavela Bhawan, two key administrative hubs in Bhubaneswar, and will later extend to district-level offices across the state.
How the AI System Works for Odisha Employees
Unlike traditional CCTV setups, the new AI-enabled cameras will feature facial recognition, real-time activity tracking, and behavioral analytics.
These systems are designed to detect patterns such as employees leaving after marking biometric attendance, idling during work hours, or engaging in non-work-related activities.
According to IT expert Prashant Sahu, the cameras will be programmed to identify officials who are not actively working or are engaged in prolonged conversations unrelated to their duties.
The system will generate performance logs that can be reviewed by department heads and administrative officers.
Performance Reviews and Disciplinary Measures
The government has clarified that AI surveillance data will be actively used to assess employee performance. This information will inform both monthly and ad-hoc reviews.
Employees found consistently underperforming may face premature retirement, in line with the state’s policy on non-performance.
This marks a shift toward outcome-based accountability, where continued employment will depend on measurable contributions to departmental goals.
The Chief Secretary emphasized that the initiative is not merely punitive but aims to foster a culture of discipline and responsibility.
“Accountability needs to be fixed,” he reportedly stated during the meeting.
Anti-Corruption and Governance Reforms
The AI camera deployment is part of a wider governance reform package that includes:
- Strengthening vigilance administration
- Enhancing grievance redressal mechanisms
- Improving transparency in procurement and service delivery
- Launching a Chief Minister’s Dashboard to track departmental performance and file movement in real time
District Collectors have been instructed to conduct monthly reviews of centrally sponsored schemes and infrastructure projects.
These reviews will place renewed emphasis on timely execution and effective fund utilization.
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