DDA employees demand retraction of biometrics amidst corona scare

The employees of the Delhi Developmental Authority (DDA) have demanded that the biometric attendance system be discontinued in offices. While a large number of government and private organisations have discontinued the use of biometrics owing to the increased chances of catching the virus, the DDA authorities continue to use it.

The DDA employees’ union is going to take up the matter with the authorities on Monday and demand that the biometric attendance system be discontinued. In its place, they want the manual registers to be used.

Till now, there have been no orders to discontinue the use of biometrics at DDA.

The switch to biometrics was done by a large number of government organisations a few years ago to ensure transparency in the procedure and prevent altering of attendance records by the employees.

Meanwhile, the South and East Delhi municipal corporations have directed all offices, schools and hospitals to immediately discontinue the biometric attendance system. Till the end of March, attendance will be registered manually for all staff.

The health department of the Delhi government had asked all government and public sector undertakings to discontinue the use of biometrics amidst the rising cases of coronavirus in the capital.

Most institutions in the government and private sector are using hand sanitisers beside the biometric machines.

The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has announced that all employees will be exempted from biometric attendance in case of Aadhar-based biometric attendance systems, in the wake of the virus spreading through touch.

Delhi schools, colleges and cinema halls will stay shut till March 31, 2020 to avoid mass gathering of people at one place one time.