System failure cripples 60 schools of pilot project

The pilot project was initiated in 298 primary schools in Narmada district and later the same gadgets were installed in 12 taluka panchayat offices in Vadodara district. But within a year, the gadgets started malfunctioning.

Vadodara District Development Officer L C Patel said the Biometric Attendance Machines (BAMs) in 12 taluka panchayats in Vadodara district conked off due to technical reasons.

“The BAMs in Pavi Jetpur taluka are defunct for the last six months due to a problem in the wiring system. Similar is the case with the other taluka panchayats in other districts,” said Patel

The BAMs are installed in only half of the primary schools in Narmada district. Milind Torwane, the former District Development Officer (DDO) of Narmada said: “The Gujarat Government sanctioned Rs 1.4 crore to install BAMs in 688 primary schools in Narmada district in November, 2006.” He said the contract to install the BAMs was given to the Bangalore-based Enterprise Soft Solution Limited.

Of the Rs 1.4 crore, around Rs 50 lakh have been utilised in the installation of the BAMs in 298 schools, said an official.

“Fifty of the 298 schools are facing problems with the BAMs, since the batteries are left uncharged after school hours. Besides, 12 BAMs have dented sensors, which have made the attendance system almost near to non-functional. There is no technical staff to take care of the system. Even the BAM installed a year ago at the Narmada district Panchayat has a malfunctioning sensor,” said K B Sorathia from the SSA.

Incidentally, in August 2007 a 15-member squad was formed to keep tabs on the district panchayat officials playing truant, when the BAMs stopped functioning.