AI-powered system likely to roll out in all panchayats by August
MAPUSA
Despite opposition from some quarters, the State government is moving ahead with its plan to implement an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered facial recognition attendance system across all village panchayats, replacing the existing biometric fingerprint system by August.
The new system, developed by Goa Electronics Limited (GEL), will also extend to block development offices and the Directorate of Panchayats headquarters.
Around 700 employees across various panchayat institutions are expected to come under its ambit.
The initiative aligns with the assurance given by Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho on the floor of the Assembly last year, aimed at modernising employee monitoring and improving public service delivery.
A senior official from the Directorate of Panchayats confirmed that preparatory work is in full swing.
“We are currently uploading facial data into the system. We expect to roll it out in the first week of August,” the official said.
According to the official, the AI-based system will replace outdated manual and fingerprint-based attendance methods, enabling real-time tracking of staff attendance and movements.
The move has, however, drawn some criticism from a section of panchayat secretaries.
Responding to their concerns, Minister Godinho criticised the resistance, saying it stemmed from an unwillingness to embrace accountability and punctuality.
Once operational, the facial recognition system will transmit live attendance data to a central dashboard accessible to senior officials, including the Panchayat Minister.
This will allow real-time monitoring of staff presence and movement.
In a noteworthy feature, the system is being engineered to function effectively even in areas with limited or no internet connectivity, ensuring smooth implementation across remote and rural panchayat jurisdictions.
“We are working to ensure the system performs reliably regardless of connectivity or geographical constraints,” the official added.
Officials said the project could serve as a pilot model for other government departments in the State.
