HUBBALLI: The Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), which has initiated several measures to strictly implement the solid waste management project, is now mulling recording the attendance of civic workers using biometric system twice a day instead of once.During a visit to various wards, the HDMC's health committee had observed that most pourakarmikas would disappear from work much before their working hours got over. Hence, the committee sent a report to HDMC commissioner Shakeel Ahmed suggesting that biometric attendance must be recorded twice a day.Committee chairman Shivanand Muttannavar said there was a need to keep a tab on health inspectors and other staff deputed to monitor cleaning process from by pourakarmikas from morning to afternoon. "We found very fewe pourakarmikas on duty in the afternoon when compared to that morning's attendance and the officer concerned should also be held responsible for this," he said.To stop pourakarmikas from skipping work in the afternoon, the committee has decided to record biometric attendance from 6am to 6:30am and 1:30pm to 2pm. "If this system is implemented, then officials on duty too will work till afternoon. We have already instructed IT cell officials to initiate process and soon the new system will be in force," said Muttannavar.Vijay Guntral, leader of contract pourakarmikas in Hubballi-Dharwad, said the biometric system will not affect pourakarmikas who are working sincerely for 25 years. "But HDMC should first identify fake pourakarmikas and remove them. It should also conduct direct recruitment of pourakarmikas and pay them directly," he added."Due to shortage of pourakarmikas, contract pourakarmikas are doing more work. If adequate PKs are deployed, it will be easy for everyone," he added.HDMC commissioner Shakeel Ahmed said, "Our officials are working on finalizing the biometric system for pourakarmikas, which will be implemented soon."

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