The West Bengal government has issued a directive to all districts mandating the use of face authentication for recording attendance under rural job schemes. The measure, which came into effect on Tuesday, aims to enhance transparency and curb irregularities in the allocation of work under these programs.
New Attendance Protocol
According to officials, the directive requires attendance to be recorded through the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) app. This step is intended to prevent the use of fake job cards and ensure that only genuine beneficiaries receive wages under the rural employment scheme. The issue of fraudulent job cards has been a significant concern in recent years, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari repeatedly raising objections about irregularities during the previous Trinamool Congress administration.
Implementation Guidelines
Under the new guidelines, mobile phones or devices used for recording attendance must be pre-registered on the official portal. Authorities are required to log into the NMMS app, download the relevant muster roll, verify workers through face authentication, and upload the attendance data electronically. This digital verification process is expected to eliminate manual errors and fraudulent entries.
The state government's move is part of broader efforts to streamline rural employment schemes and ensure that funds are utilized effectively. By leveraging technology, the administration aims to bring greater accountability and efficiency in the implementation of these programs. The directive applies to all districts across the state, and compliance will be monitored by higher authorities.
