Nine sanitation workers from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) were sacked on Wednesday after authorities found that they were using ‘synthetic’ fingerprints to fool the biometric attendance system that was in place at the office of the municipal authority.
Speaking to reporters, Viswajeet Kampati, Director of the Vigilance & Enforcement wing said that from the last two weeks, they had received a lot of complaints from various sources alleging irregularities in the attendance of sanitation workers.
“Based on the information and as per the directions of the GHMC Commissioner, the Vigilance & Enforcement deployed six teams, which visited, inspected and enquired in two areas each, thereby covering 12 areas including Charminar, Kukatpally, Moosapet, Malakpet and L B Nagar,” a press release from the GHMC stated.
Investigation officials said that they found some of the Sanitary Field Assistants (SFA) using synthetic fingerprints and caught 17 SFAs red-handed while they were committing different irregularities. While 9 were using synthetic fingerprints, 8 others were found committing other irregularities.
“Around 84 synthetic fingerprints along with biometric machines have been seized from them. A detailed report has been prepared which will be placed before the GHMC Commissioner Dana Kishore to initiate further necessary action,” the Vigilance & Enforcement Director told reporters.
The municipal body is also mulling filing criminal cases against the 9 SFAs and initiate further necessary actions as per the law.
Officials also said that they would investigate and find out the modus operandi of the SFAs and also work to ensure that such an incident would not repeat itself.
Just earlier this week, Hyderabad was conferred the ODF++ (Open Defecation Free Plus Plus) status by the Swachh Bharat Mission. Authorities in the city are attempting to leave no stone unturned as the Swachh Survekshan rankings is expected to be announced by the Centre soon.