A pen-down strike has erupted across colleges in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir as teaching and non-teaching staff protest against the alleged unjustified withholding of their salaries due to their non-registration on the Adbhut Doda Attendance portal. The district administration’s move to enforce the digital attendance system has sparked discontent among the employees, who claim they are already complying with existing attendance procedures.
The Adbhut Doda Attendance system, introduced as part of the district-level IT initiative known as ADBHUT DODA online services, was designed to provide real-time monitoring of government employees’ presence in their workplaces. Its aim was to enhance punctuality and improve service delivery. Additionally, the initiative included a ‘DOST Centre’ at the DC office complex in Doda, offering assistance to citizens in accessing government online services.
Under the umbrella of ADBHUT Doda, the District Administration also sought to create an environment conducive to employment opportunities and innovation, exemplified by the provision of free workspaces to support young entrepreneurs and innovators through the DODA HUB initiative. Moreover, DC online services, another facet of ADBHUT Doda, aimed to make the district administration more accessible and accountable, with various programs such as the Innovation Challenge, E-Library/Study Material, Online Classes, and initiatives like ‘Youthon 2023,’ ‘Swachh Gaon Sundar Gaon,’ and tourism and cultural promotion activities receiving praise from both locals and visitors.
However, amidst these efforts to streamline government operations, a significant dispute has arisen. Teaching and non-teaching staff members from colleges throughout the district have embarked on a pen-down strike to voice their concerns regarding the Adbhut Doda Attendance system. Victor Roy Kotwal, a non-teaching staff member at GDC Bhaderwah, expressed their grievances, stating that while they support the Adbhut Doda initiative, certain protocols within the Higher Education Department and Deputy Commissioner Doda’s office need to be maintained.
Kotwal explained, “We are not against the Adbhut Doda initiative; we would welcome its implementation across Jammu and Kashmir. However, we already adhere to biometric attendance twice a day, in the morning and evening, in addition to maintaining a physical attendance register. Despite this, our salaries were withheld in July due to non-registration on Adbhut Doda, and we faced difficulties meeting our basic needs, such as school fees of our children and food for families.”
Mushtaq Ahmed Bhat, a professor at the same college, emphasized that the geotag-based attendance system was intended for field staff who could not implement Aadhaar-based biometric attendance. He stressed that the teaching staff had been using Aadhaar-based biometric attendance for over a year, which is monitored by the Higher Education Department. Despite this, their salaries have been unjustly withheld, prompting questions about the necessity of the Adbhut Doda website.
Bhat posed questions, “If this app is compulsory for everyone, why has it not been mandated through a GAD order? Why is it not implemented in other districts of Jammu and Kashmir, where existing attendance systems are functioning well?”
He continued, “We are committed to our roles, which involve teaching, research, and numerous other responsibilities. Managing multiple attendance systems leaves us with little time to fulfill our duties effectively. If stakeholders are satisfied with the functioning of the college, why is the District Administration disrupting the status quo, causing hardships for both staff and students?”
When The Chenab Times attempted to solicit comments on this issue, we endeavored to contact DC Doda, Vishesh Paul Mahajan. Regrettably, despite waiting for several hours until evening, Mr. Mahajan was unavailable to provide any comments at the time this report is being filed.
As the pen-down strike continues, it remains to be seen how the district administration will address the concerns of the teaching and non-teaching staff in the Doda district and find a resolution to this ongoing dispute.
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Anzer Ayoob is the Founder and Chief Editor to The Chenab Times
