Odisha govt makes biometric attendance mandatory for all Panchayati Raj staff, including BDOs

In a bid to enforce punctuality and improve accountability in grassroots governance, the Odisha Government has made biometric attendance compulsory for employees across Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, and Zilla Parishad offices.

The Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department issued strict instructions to all district collectors, directing immediate installation and operationalisation of biometric machines in rural administrative offices.

Official Order to Collectors

In an official communication, Additional Secretary Surya Narayan Dash stressed that timely attendance is a “prerequisite for efficiency, transparency and accountability in public service delivery.”

The letter, addressed to all collectors, noted that biometric systems provide real-time data and prevent manipulation of attendance records, and must be installed at the earliest. The letter also noted that the attendance will be mandatory across all levels of grassroots governance, from gram panchayat workers to Block Development Officers (BDOs).

“The introduction of the Biometric Attendance System (BAS) is a key reform initiative aimed at instilling discipline, minimising absenteeism and promoting a results-oriented work culture,” the order stated.

District administrations have been asked to make necessary infrastructural and logistical arrangements, with an Action Taken Report (ATR) to be submitted to the department at the earliest.

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Immediate Installation Ordered

The directive covers every Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, and Zilla Parishad office in the state. District collectors have been told to coordinate with authorities to ensure swift implementation, with biometric devices to be installed “at the earliest” and reports furnished promptly.

The department highlighted that biometric attendance has already been introduced in several government departments, producing encouraging results in terms of improved punctuality and productivity. Officials expect the system to reinforce discipline and responsiveness within Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).