SHILLONG: Though the biometric access control system was installed in the Secretariat and other government offices for security and monitoring the attendance of employees, several IAS officers are not using the biometric cards to enter or leave the Secretariat.The access control cards are issued to all employees, including officers.Sources said on Wednesday that for these senior officers, the guards or the access control employees at the gates open the gate by using their cards which, however, is not allowed for other government employees.
The biometric access control system was installed in the Secretariat in 2010. The service was later extended to the offices of MUDA and Deputy Commissioner, among others, over the years.
Sources added that the senior officers, who are mostly IAS, are expected to set an example but they are not following the rules, whereas they like to monitor their subordinate staff. Though some of the senior officers hold additional charges outside the Secretariat, this cannot be an excuse for not using the cards and no one knows where exactly they are in such cases, sources added.
There are around 2,000 employees in the Secretariat alone, including casual employees, and a report is generated on a monthly basis to monitor the attendance.
The best punctual employees are awarded for the last two to three years on the basis of report from the system.
When contacted, a senior official said that he has to verify how many officers are not using the access cards.
Another allegation is that an IAS officer, who is the chairman of MeECL in the rank of additional chief secretary, is using red beacon in the vehicle whereas it is entitled only to the chief secretary.
