'Biometric register helps curb false bill in govt hostels'

The Social Welfare Department’s initiative of installing biometric devices to monitor attendance of students and staff in government hostels has paid off by curbing bogus billing on hostel expenses, especially food.

Briefing reporters, Social Welfare Minister A Narayanaswamy said biometric register system has been installed in 280 out of 4,444 pre-metric and post-metric hostels.

The new system, he said, had revealed that by and large 40 per cent of bills for food served at hostels was for non-existent students. The government spends around Rs 340 crore on food expenses in these hotels where a total of 4.2 lakh school and college students stay.

The entire system can be monitored online at the office of Social Welfare Commissioner in Bangalore, and would be extended to all hostels in a phased manner within next one year, he said.