New Delhi: Union urban development and housing and urban poverty alleviation ministries staff casually rolling into work were caught off guard Monday when minister Venkaiah Naidu made a surprise visit to Nirman Bhavan.
In his second such visit since last month, Naidu found many latecomers. Taking a serious view of "absenteeism", the minister announced the setting up of bio-metric attendance system.
"Personnel at lower rungs like section heads and supporting staff in large number were found to be not coming on time. Names of latecomers were noted," said an official of the urban development ministry.
"He (Naidu) reached the ministry at 9.10 a.m. and began going to the rooms of the officials. He also checked cleanliness," the official added.
Naidu was accompanied by Urban Development Secretary Shankar Aggarwal and other officials.
Naidu instructed the joint secretaries in both ministries to visit their respective establishments every day for a week to monitor attendance and identify repeat offenders.
