MMC in two minds: To go in for CCTV or bio-metric scan

MMC in two minds: To go in for CCTV or bio-metric scan
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, FEB 21
The Margao Municipal Council appears to be in two minds — whether to go in for Closed Circuit TVs or implement the bio-metric finger scan reader to keep a track on the employee’s attendance.
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat during his visit to the civic body on December 2 had announced that the government would finance the CCTV proposal for Margao Municipality to bring the employees under the scanner.
However, till date the CCTV cameras are yet to be take up positions in the civic body, even as the Municipal administration appears in two minds vis-à-vis the CCTVs and bio-metric finger scan reader.
MMC Chief Officer Prasanna Acharya informed that the civic body had invited two quotations from prospective parties for the installation of CCTV cameras in the municipal building.
However, he pointed out that a circular issued by the chief secretary has asked the government and semi-government departments to go in for bio-metric finger scan reader to record the attendance of the employees.
“We are in two minds now, how to go about the matter. If the civic body goes ahead with the CCTV camera proposal, the bio-metric finger scan reader already installed in the civic body would go waste. The Civic body is weighing the two options,” he added.
Incidentally, finger scan reader, which was installed at the entrance to the Municipal building is not being implemented till date due to objections raised by the employees under the banner of Goa Municipal Employees Association.
In fact, former Municipal Chairperson, Savio Coutinho had made an abortive attempt to put the bio-metric finger scan to use, but the proposal was shot down by the employees and was held in abeyance on the instructions of Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat.
Incidentally, the Chief Minister had suggested implementation of the CCTV proposal some two years ago, but the proposal is yet to see light of the day. During his visit to the Civic body soon after incumbent Chairperson Sushila Naik took over the reigns of office, the Chief Minister issued instructions to the Civic body to revive the CCTV proposal, but once again it has not made much headway, with the Chief Secretary’s circular favouring implementation of bio-metric finger scan readers.