Govt office in Kathmandu introduces digital attendance and salary payment system to its employees

KATHMANDU, June 19: A government office in Kathmandu has implemented a revolutionary system where employees no longer need to physically report to the office to mark their attendance. Instead, they can conveniently use a mobile application for attendance marking.

The High Powered Committee for Integrated Development of Bagmati Civilization has introduced this system for employees working under contracts and temporary positions, successfully running for the past three years.

Since November 2019, the initiative led by the then Secretary and Program Director of the High Powered Committee, Leela Dhakal, has enabled 56 contractual employees and 110 temporary employees to mark their attendance from home on a daily basis. By sending information about their field visits through the mobile app, they are considered present. This innovative approach has relieved them from the necessity of physically attending the office.

Moreover, the convenience extends to salary payments as well. The High Powered Committee for Integrated Development directly transfers the salaries of all employees, including the 28 permanent staff members, to their respective bank accounts, eliminating the need for salary-related visits to the office.

The attendance and work performance of temporary and contractual employees are monitored through a mobile application called RCMS (Remote Control and Monitoring System). The employees capture photos and timestamps of their field locations using the app, ensuring accurate attendance records. With 28 designated field locations, which include rivers and streams in the valley, the committee oversees these areas.

Rabindra Bohara, the Secretary and Program Director of the committee, emphasizes strict measures against any misuse of the mobile attendance system. He states that immediate action will be taken if employees mark attendance from unauthorized locations, highlighting the committee's commitment to effective monitoring and preventing dishonest practices.

Former member secretary of the committee, Subas Basnet, shared that the decision to discontinue the mobile attendance system was made during his tenure. Although the process was initiated, it was not completed due to his transfer. However, complaints have been lodged with the Secretariat of Urban Development Minister Sita Gurung regarding employees who neglect office attendance after the implementation of the mobile attendance facility. Some employees were reported to have conducted fieldwork from home or even outside Kathmandu.

Despite challenges, the implementation of the mobile attendance and salary payment system has significantly transformed the work dynamics of the government office, ensuring efficiency and convenience for employees.