Kolkata
West Bengal to Introduce Biometric Attendance in All Government Offices
The West Bengal government has announced plans to implement biometric attendance systems across all government offices to improve accountability, punctuality, and workplace discipline. The move was announced by Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul during an inspection of civic infrastructure works in Kolkata.
West Bengal Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul on Tuesday announced that the state government will introduce biometric attendance systems in all government offices as part of efforts to enhance administrative accountability and efficiency.
The announcement was made during the minister’s inspection of drainage and desiltation work along the Churial Canal in Kolkata, where she reviewed ongoing civic infrastructure projects and interacted with officials.
Speaking to reporters, Paul emphasized the importance of accountability in public service and stated that government employees must adhere to prescribed office timings. She said the biometric attendance system would help ensure that employees report to work on time and follow attendance norms consistently.
According to the minister, the initiative is aimed at promoting greater transparency and responsibility within government departments. The adoption of biometric technology is expected to provide accurate attendance records while reducing the possibility of manual discrepancies.
The move aligns with broader efforts by governments across India to leverage digital technologies for administrative reforms, workforce management, and improved public service delivery. Biometric attendance systems have already been adopted by several central and state government departments to monitor employee attendance more effectively.
The announcement came while the minister was assessing drainage and desiltation operations along the Churial Canal, a key component of efforts to improve urban infrastructure and address waterlogging concerns in parts of Kolkata.
Officials are expected to work on the implementation framework, including installation of biometric devices, integration with attendance management systems, and issuance of operational guidelines for government employees.
The proposed rollout is likely to impact thousands of government employees across departments and is expected to strengthen workplace accountability within the state administration.