Nagpur: In a proactive measure, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has introduced the Facial Recognition Based Attendance (FRBA) system for its employees stationed at the headquarters and 10 zone offices. This move, effective from the second week of May, aims to address concerns regarding irregularities in attendance.
The decision to implement FRBA came following complaints regarding inconsistent attendance among employees, particularly at the headquarters and zonal offices. Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Abhijeet Chaudhari issued directives to this effect. A recent surprise inspection by Chaudhari on April 29 revealed significant absenteeism issues: Out of 948 employees, 58 were absent without prior intimation, while 95 were on leave and 52 were assigned election duty.
Past attempts to regulate attendance through biometric systems faced challenges, primarily due to technical issues. Alleged frequent malfunctions in the machines rendered the previous system ineffective.
The FRBA system employs biometric attendance machines equipped with facial recognition capabilities. These machines have been installed at both the headquarters and zonal offices. The General Administration Department is currently in the process of registering and capturing the facial data of approximately 3,000 employees.
Each FRBA machine comes at a cost of Rs 33,000, inclusive of installation and maintenance for the first year. Subsequently, an annual maintenance fee of Rs 13,000 per machine will be incurred by the NMC. Five machines will be installed at the headquarters, with one machine each at the zonal offices.
Initially, the focus will be on improving attendance at the headquarters and zonal offices. However, there are plans to extend the FRBA system to NMC-run hospitals in the second phase.
A circular issued by the General Administration Department emphasizes the mandatory registration for all officers and employees. Furthermore, it highlights that salaries will be disbursed through the biometric system starting from the following month.
The implementation of the FRBA system by the NMC underscores its commitment to enhancing efficiency and transparency in attendance management. By leveraging facial recognition technology, the corporation aims to address longstanding challenges related to attendance irregularities, thereby fostering a culture of accountability among its workforce.
