MAPUSA
The facial recognition-based attendance system introduced through the AI-powered Niyamith app in panchayats across Goa has run into several hurdles, with staff members reporting frequent glitches and connectivity issues.
The initiative, rolled out by the Directorate of Panchayats to boost digitisation and ensure accountability, requires employees to log attendance four times a day using facial recognition on their smartphones.
The real-time data is transmitted to a central dashboard accessible to senior officials, including the Panchayat Minister.
However, in many rural panchayats, staffers complain of poor network coverage, errors in tracing location and mismatches in facial identification.
“It’s time-consuming and has literally become a headache. At times registration is smooth, but on many occasions, the app throws multiple errors,” said a staffer from a coastal panchayat in Bardez.
In Sirsaim, employees said they sometimes need to log in several times before their attendance is recorded correctly.
“Either the location is not traced properly or the face is not recognised. It takes a hell of a time,” one staff member said.
In Camurlim, a rural panchayat in Tivim constituency, the app reportedly becomes unusable due to lack of network coverage.
Another challenge highlighted by panchayat staff is device compatibility.
While iPhone users are able to register quickly, employees using Android phones face delays and errors during login.
As a precaution, most panchayats still maintain a manual attendance register in parallel.
Problems encountered while using the app are communicated to the Block Development Officer (BDO) through WhatsApp messages.
Not all panchayats are struggling, though.
Staff at Pilerne-Marra reported relatively smooth functioning of the system, barring occasional network issues.
“Initially there were some problems, but now everything is going fine,” a senior staff member said.
Acknowledging the difficulties, a senior official at the Directorate of Panchayats admitted there were “teething problems” in implementing the new system.
“Some issues are there but we will resolve them in coordination with Goa Electronics Limited (GEL), which manages the app,” the official assured.
Despite the glitches, the government remains committed to expanding the Niyamith app to all panchayats and eventually to other departments.
Employees also have the option to log in through a colleague’s device if their own phone is lost or damaged, ensuring data integrity is not compromised.
The system, if fully streamlined, promises greater transparency, better monitoring and accountability across the panchayats in the State.
