Tribal workers seek withdrawal of Face App attendance system

PVTG tribal workers from Rayipadu, Pedagaruvu, Ajaypuram and Z. Jogampeta villages in Ravikamatham mandal of Anakapalli district have urged the government to withdraw the Face App attendance system being implemented in employment guarantee works, alleging that it was causing hardships in the summer heat.

The workers, belonging to 16 tribal habitations under Cheemalapadu panchayat, said that around 570 job card holders were dependent on the works. They alleged that poor mobile network connectivity in tribal areas was delaying the attendance process, forcing workers to spend nearly two hours on Face App verification alone, despite working about five hours a day.

The workers said standing under the scorching sun for prolonged periods was becoming difficult amid rising temperatures. They demanded that the government either abolish the Face App system or limit attendance verification to once per day. They also sought supply of buttermilk at worksites during summer.

The workers appealed to the authorities to provide employment work on their own lands, including cashew and mango plantations, and village ponds.

They also demanded the filling of a second Village Resource Person (VRP) post, stating that previously two VRPs were available, but currently a single VRP is handling the workload, resulting in implementation difficulties.

Agricultural Workers’ Union district assistant secretary K. Govinda Rao, along with Gemmili Bhaskara Rao, Korra Mahesh, Pangi Bhaskar Rao and others, participated in the programme.