It has been over eight years since the government introduced the Biometric Attendance System (BAS) across its offices with the promise of ensuring punctuality, accountability, and transparency in public service. The initiative, welcomed at its inception, was meant to end the culture of absenteeism and bring discipline into the functioning of government departments.
However, despite the passage of time, the reality on the ground paints a dismal picture. The system was temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic as a precautionary measure, but with normalcy restored long ago, one fails to understand why the administration in Jammu and Kashmir continues to drag its feet on enforcing compliance. Worse still, many departments remain reluctant to implement BAS in letter and spirit, allowing employees to play truant with impunity.
What makes matters even more frustrating is the indifference of those at the helm. Instead of taking stern disciplinary action against erring employees or issuing show-cause notices, the authorities keep resorting to mild warnings and repeated reminders. This leniency not only emboldens delinquent employees but also demoralizes those who remain sincere to their duties. It is nothing short of a betrayal of the public’s trust.
The question naturally arises: what was the point of investing crores of rupees in creating the infrastructure for BAS if it is allowed to gather dust? If the system is not enforced, then the expenditure incurred on it is nothing less than wasteful spending, bordering on corruption. On one hand, taxpayers are made to suffer due to inefficient services, while on the other, truant employees thrive under a weak administrative gaze.
For how long will the government treat this issue with kid gloves? For how long will departments operate in a ‘Dhakka Start’ mode, running only when pushed? The BAS was not introduced as a formality but as a serious reform tool to streamline administration. The longer its implementation is delayed, the more it erodes faith in governance.
It is high time the administration sends out a strong message—non-compliance will not be tolerated, and those undermining the system will face strict consequences. Anything less will reduce BAS to nothing more than another failed experiment, with citizens left to pay the price.
