The Social Welfare Department in Kolar district has decided to implement the biometric system in hostels run by it in order to prevent irregularities.
The step was initiated in view of widespread complaints about misuse of funds in name of food bills. Though a small number of inmates of the hostels partake of food in their respective hostels, bills have been inflated to receive funds from the government.
It was the normal practice that some students admitted to the hostels used to go to their school / college from their homes due to the lack of infrastructure in the hostels. However bogus bills are being created particularly in connection with food items and funds are being swindled.
The Department has decided to go biometric in order to stop the loss to the public exchequer. While stopping draining of public fund was the main intention, it was also aimed at retaining the students in the hostels, says Joint Director of Social Welfare Department B.K. Nagarajappa.
Initially, the system would be adopted in two hostels in the district and later on will be extended to all, Mr. Nagarajappa said. It was the responsibility of the superintendents of the respective hostels to ensure that inmates put their attendance through biometric machines before entering dining halls. The data of all the three sessions (breakfast, afternoon meal and supper) will be separately entered at the State-level data centre.
According to Mr. Nagarajappa, outsiders cannot take shelter in the hostels once the biometric system was adopted. Other irregularities including cheating in food bills could also be stopped.
The District SWO and taluk social welfare officers have been instructed to procure computers and net connection for its implementation.
• 105 hostels run by Social Welfare Department in the district.
• Total number of students admitted to them: 4784.
• Biometric system will be adopted in two hostels initially and will be extended to all in phased manner.
