Biometerics- Dental teachers or Criminals
The Ethics of Biometrics being used by the Dental Council
by George Paul
India has traditionally fueled corruption through unreasonable licensing and regulation. This
was true of the manner in which buildings, tax or even business was controlled by the state
machinery. At a time when the license raj is being deconstructed to allow transparency and stem
corruption, it is ironic that the DCI is tightening its grip to squeeze the system. The introduction
of the biometric system to centrally monitor individual dental teachers is a classic example. It
envisages the central monitoring of 290 private dental colleges spread over the whole nation.
The mandate of the DCI is pretty clear. It has been entrusted with the job of overseeing education by reviewing and monitoring Dental institutions around the country.
Nothing in the Act gives the DCI the powers or moral responsibility to check on the daily attendance of every staff member attending to his duties thousands of miles away. We are talking about a handful of people checking out the attendance of more than 30,000 teaching staff and several hundreds of non teaching and auxiliary staff every day sitting in an office in New Delhi. There are other practical problems like verifying if a particular staff has not signed in because he is availing sick leave, casual leave or duty leave. Everybody from the DCI to the teachers knows that it will be impossible for all staff members to comply to a full time schedule as prescribed by the DCI (8 hours a day for 240 days). The managements who have invested crores of rupees starting institutions are certainly not going to shut down. The part time teachers masquerading as full time staff are not going to suddenly become full time staff and move their homes to new towns (even villages).
The biometric system is going to be the biggest gaffe for the simple reason that there will be even more deceit, dishonesty and cheating. So why is the DCI doing it? There may be many reasons and some of them may soon tumble out of the closet. The most obvious and dangerous one at present is the possibility that the DCI can use the data to target individuals and institutions that do not tow their line (and there are plenty of them). The favoured ones may of course have a free run. It is not difficult to predict this possibility as this kind of selective action is already being used to harass dissenting teachers and managements. The biometric system will only make the DCI a more efficient tormentor. Managements of institutions and teachers around the country must be aware of this.
Does this mean that Biometrics is not an effective tool?
NO! Biometrics is an useful tool for the employer who is paying the wages. The managements
and hospital authorities certainly can use biometrics if they wish to ensure that the employees are working for the stipulated time. It is a privilege of the employer.
Is it ethical for the DCI to use biometrics to monitor individuals?
Certainly not! First of all it is not the mandate of the DCI. More importantly there are ethical
issues involved in biometric scanning. The regulatory body can only impose their powers of
regulation on the institution through the principals. The DCI will now be seen to have a direct
access to teachers and plenty of scope for manipulation and even intimidation. In the absence of
a confidentiality clause and direct accountability the regulatory body has no business to play the
role of ‘big brother is watching’ on the individual teacher. At least not in a liberal democracy.
There are other issues. The biometric contract has been awarded to a company without
consulting with the EC or AGM regarding the identity of the bidders and tenders received from
them. Nobody knows the terms of contract and whether there is a confidentiality clause between
the parties executing the project and the DCI and also between the teachers and the DCI. In fact
biometric scanning cannot be taken up in the absence of a tripartite agreement between all these
parties- even assuming that it is correct for a regulatory body to directly monitor teachers in a
college. There are several other questions about biometrics. How will masses of biometric data
be stored? These are not fingerprint cards stored in a secured building; electronic data can be
easily moved and duplicated. How will this information be safeguarded? Who will have access
to this information? Will companies be allowed access to biometric data? Can anybody prevent
the custodian of this data from selling it to business or even passing it on to the government?
Are transparency, redress mechanisms and a right to anonymity safeguarded by policy-makers
and systems designers considering that biometrics such as fingerprints permanently memorialize identity?
What should the management and teachers do?
For a start the dental teachers must refuse to submit their finger prints like common criminals
to some stranger. The DCI has moved one step closer to direct intimidation of teachers. This
seems to be just another mechanism to subjugate teachers and managements. The solution to the problem of part time teaching is a very simple one- deregulation. Adjunct and part time teaching is an accepted norm around the world. The laws can be amended to allow this possibility so that teachers and managements will not have to resort to illegally giving affidavits as full time staff when in fact they are part time teachers. If policing must be employed, it must be done by an independent professional body like the CBI who will have no personal friends or enemies. In fact these bodies must first investigate the leaders and inspectors, all of whom are certainly not above board as evidenced by recent arrests in the MCI.
We hope the managements, teachers and all professionals raise their voice against this draconian
system that will put teachers and institutions in a vulnerable position. The only winners will be
the powerful leaders in the DCI who can control them- and of course the businessmen who deal
with these machines. It would be interesting to know who they are??
by George Paul
India has traditionally fueled corruption through unreasonable licensing and regulation. This
was true of the manner in which buildings, tax or even business was controlled by the state
machinery. At a time when the license raj is being deconstructed to allow transparency and stem
corruption, it is ironic that the DCI is tightening its grip to squeeze the system. The introduction
of the biometric system to centrally monitor individual dental teachers is a classic example. It
envisages the central monitoring of 290 private dental colleges spread over the whole nation.
The mandate of the DCI is pretty clear. It has been entrusted with the job of overseeing education by reviewing and monitoring Dental institutions around the country.
Nothing in the Act gives the DCI the powers or moral responsibility to check on the daily attendance of every staff member attending to his duties thousands of miles away. We are talking about a handful of people checking out the attendance of more than 30,000 teaching staff and several hundreds of non teaching and auxiliary staff every day sitting in an office in New Delhi. There are other practical problems like verifying if a particular staff has not signed in because he is availing sick leave, casual leave or duty leave. Everybody from the DCI to the teachers knows that it will be impossible for all staff members to comply to a full time schedule as prescribed by the DCI (8 hours a day for 240 days). The managements who have invested crores of rupees starting institutions are certainly not going to shut down. The part time teachers masquerading as full time staff are not going to suddenly become full time staff and move their homes to new towns (even villages).
The biometric system is going to be the biggest gaffe for the simple reason that there will be even more deceit, dishonesty and cheating. So why is the DCI doing it? There may be many reasons and some of them may soon tumble out of the closet. The most obvious and dangerous one at present is the possibility that the DCI can use the data to target individuals and institutions that do not tow their line (and there are plenty of them). The favoured ones may of course have a free run. It is not difficult to predict this possibility as this kind of selective action is already being used to harass dissenting teachers and managements. The biometric system will only make the DCI a more efficient tormentor. Managements of institutions and teachers around the country must be aware of this.
Does this mean that Biometrics is not an effective tool?
NO! Biometrics is an useful tool for the employer who is paying the wages. The managements
and hospital authorities certainly can use biometrics if they wish to ensure that the employees are working for the stipulated time. It is a privilege of the employer.
Is it ethical for the DCI to use biometrics to monitor individuals?
Certainly not! First of all it is not the mandate of the DCI. More importantly there are ethical
issues involved in biometric scanning. The regulatory body can only impose their powers of
regulation on the institution through the principals. The DCI will now be seen to have a direct
access to teachers and plenty of scope for manipulation and even intimidation. In the absence of
a confidentiality clause and direct accountability the regulatory body has no business to play the
role of ‘big brother is watching’ on the individual teacher. At least not in a liberal democracy.
There are other issues. The biometric contract has been awarded to a company without
consulting with the EC or AGM regarding the identity of the bidders and tenders received from
them. Nobody knows the terms of contract and whether there is a confidentiality clause between
the parties executing the project and the DCI and also between the teachers and the DCI. In fact
biometric scanning cannot be taken up in the absence of a tripartite agreement between all these
parties- even assuming that it is correct for a regulatory body to directly monitor teachers in a
college. There are several other questions about biometrics. How will masses of biometric data
be stored? These are not fingerprint cards stored in a secured building; electronic data can be
easily moved and duplicated. How will this information be safeguarded? Who will have access
to this information? Will companies be allowed access to biometric data? Can anybody prevent
the custodian of this data from selling it to business or even passing it on to the government?
Are transparency, redress mechanisms and a right to anonymity safeguarded by policy-makers
and systems designers considering that biometrics such as fingerprints permanently memorialize identity?
What should the management and teachers do?
For a start the dental teachers must refuse to submit their finger prints like common criminals
to some stranger. The DCI has moved one step closer to direct intimidation of teachers. This
seems to be just another mechanism to subjugate teachers and managements. The solution to the problem of part time teaching is a very simple one- deregulation. Adjunct and part time teaching is an accepted norm around the world. The laws can be amended to allow this possibility so that teachers and managements will not have to resort to illegally giving affidavits as full time staff when in fact they are part time teachers. If policing must be employed, it must be done by an independent professional body like the CBI who will have no personal friends or enemies. In fact these bodies must first investigate the leaders and inspectors, all of whom are certainly not above board as evidenced by recent arrests in the MCI.
We hope the managements, teachers and all professionals raise their voice against this draconian
system that will put teachers and institutions in a vulnerable position. The only winners will be
the powerful leaders in the DCI who can control them- and of course the businessmen who deal
with these machines. It would be interesting to know who they are??
posted by dentfaculty at 10:17 PM
19 Comments:
are we just going to read mails and blogs or are we going to see any action
excellent article...hope common sense prevails
time for a dental staff association
What a pathetic Blog. You may delete this comment, after reading it.
I am not sure about the business behind a biometric machine, anyway that machine doesn't cost more than few thousands.. Also count the total dental colleges in country.
Thats not the main issue, are u aware of some pathetic dental colleges, where teaching is done by visitors only. .. which lack the required hospital & lab facilities ?? Anyway i am aware and i am student of one college like that .. pathetic institution ..
they plays drama , during each inspection , we see bulk of teachers whenever the inspectors come ..
This "rental" of faculties is a big business & big network is behind that... Teachers comes as groups and stay in some hotels & they acts like regular staff on the inspection day.. and just vanishes with the cash bundles ..
What about the students ??? they are not getting the required faculties and all... and the portions are covered at the end of year by some other visitors ..
The practicals & all just govinda .. Just understand the fact that, there are some colleges running like this ..
This is a very good step taken by the DCI . we appreciate that . Teachers may not like this, because they will not be able to get that extra money ..
But think about the future of students, they are the young blood, at least they have the right to get the minimum facilities for studying. many of them are studying paying lakhs & lakhs ..
Its one of the duty of the DCI " To remove the frauds from the field of dentistry and to maintain the equal dental education standards in the country"
Read the dentist act or text books ..
Of course teachers have the rights to work , wherever they wants, but they have know rights to destroy a students future, by getting that "extra money" these people are doing that..
I have seen very good teachers, this is not related to them. . but understand the fact that, there are frauds in the field.. working in the many colleges at same time ( in paper only) .
This is a very good step taken by DCI , and all the student community will support this.
If you are not a " so called fraud teacher", plz support this.
biometric machines are going to come in schools also.. and many of offices having it.
The government institutions should also be included in the biometrics scanner. We all know that these institutions are grossly understaffed and most of the staff are hardly interested and are irregular.The govt institutions should also be made answerable. Why is the DCI arm twisting the private institutions only,IS IT BECAUSE THEY ARE EASY PREY.
The biometrics should be applied on ALL OR NONE.
SOME ONE PLEASE TELL ME DOES DCI HAS BIOMETRIC SCANNER?????????????
Its high time the DCI stopped its mafia like running of dental education in the country. There is a nexus between managements of private dental colleges and the DCI authorities.Only those who are in the favoured circle, are let off the hook! If they really mean business,why not cleanse the entire system right through the length and breadth of this country, not just a few selected colleges. Even after the names of visiting faculty to colleges in the north are given to the DCI, no action is taken! These staff are just called to Delhi, where the high command asks them to justify their monthly visits! Why should biometrics be started in certain colleges, let it begin in all colleges at the same time.
It is absurd for the student community to complain because prior to their admission they can always verify the credibility of an institution in terms of infrastructure and teaching efficiency.After all its a matter of their education and money.
Is the DCI looking into the huge salary discrepancy across colleges for various designations. What has it done for the welfare of the teaching faculty? Do the students know that the salary paid to a BDS staff is a mere Rs.4000? What is the fate of the freshly passed MDS students after they pay and study so hard-they are willing to work in colleges for a sum of Rs.10000, which probably a driver is paid in any MNC.
in this liasion between college managements and DCI, the teaching staff are being harassed. The salary structure does not follow any regulatory norms, they are not relieved,no experience certificate is given and now they are asked for biometrics.
Well, its time that Mr. President pulls up his socks so as to ensure decent uniform pay-scales throught the country if he wants teachers to be total academians. There is no point in managements paying huge amounts and visits at Delhi to compensate for their deficiencies.
THE TIME HAS COME FOR A DENTAL TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION TO BE FORMED BECAUSE WITHOUT TEACHERS THERE CAN BE NO COLLEGE NOR STUDENT NOR COUNCIL.
I do not understand why students are annoyed with teachers complaining about biometrics. Its only a matter of time for them to be on the teaching side! What surprises the teachers is that many of the colleges do not have a strict system in place to check attendance of students. But they have taken up biometrics of teaching faculty seriously!
There was such a hullaballo about installing the biometric machines in colleges in the south.The irony is that the guy who came officially from the dci-DR. RAJ ARYA himself is a BDS graduate or should we say an agent/tout/pimp -making a living collecting commissions from managements and teaching staff for their placements as part time faculty in the north! This guy throws his weight around with the staff--his only merit is he is 'close' to 'boss'(the president)
As long as some of the faculty buckle down to these guys, the problem will continue. Its a pity to see some of the senior most teachers, principals standing on one leg at the airport waiting for the ever-delayed flights of the president.Even more shameful is the way some of the dci / ec members/ faculty jostle with each other just to get close to him!
Gosh! Are we talking about educated, white collar class 1 teachers or some desperate men? It gives an impression that the council is run by a don and his henchman. TIME FOR A DENTAL FACULTY ASSOCIATION. PLEASE START ONE AND I AM SURE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF TEACHERS WAITING TO JOIN!
I second the above opinion of starting a faculty association. The management can not be given all the rights to determine the faculty.
I would also urge faculties to suggest a change in the curriculum. Some age old methods such as temporary removable partial dentures which are known to create secondary disease like cancers are still being taught as the mainstream treatment and students have no knowledge about the alternate treatment methods. An overhaul of the total system is on the cards.
i honestly feel that biometric is just one more tool for harrassing the staff...similar to the notification passed last year by the dci, saying that professor in oral pathology was not required in undergraduate colleges..how ridiculous...no professor as head of dept, in a department that teaches two major subjects? shame shame.thare are better ways of monitoring private dental colleges.
i will definitely join an association of faculty members...lets form one.
who is going to bell the cat?who is going to start the dental faculty association of india
how about all faculty members uniting and deciding not to give the finger impression from 1st sept.afterall DCI is not paying us.
officially all the colleges wont function from that date.DCI will be forced to take some step
first DCI should see the amount given to staff, HOD N PROF working for just peanuts because he has liberty to take class n go home or to his clinic. no class/study loss for students n management.so dci should allow visiting faculty system for transparency buttttttt not like this-----finger printinggggg.........big loss will be there for students onlyyyyy.management to vaise he prof. ko pay na de kar dci ka pet bhar rahi hai:)jo ki kabhi nahi bharnaaaaaaa
let us make an association-bulshit to finger printing............
nothing works in this country.....we only talk..talk...talk.....and the council for dentist does not protect the dentists but the management colleges
One latest example to prove that the so called biometric machine is a farce is as below:
There is a very senior faculty by the name Dr. Anoop Bhushan working as HOD Periodontics at Santosh Dental College Close to Delhi. According to sources he comes in the morning, gives his biometric & sometimes if he feels comes in the afternoon & gives biometric again. No body to question why because he is the classmate of the DCI President Dr. Anil Kohli....... He proudly boasts that nobody dare question because of his proximity to Dr. Kohli.
Another strange thing is that the fomer DCI President' Dr.R.K Bali's family work in the same college & there is a competition between Kohli's & Bali's associates as to who is more irregular. Neither the Principal nor the management has the courage to handle this mess.
Bloggers what to say about this........ Where is Dentistry heading If so called the Mother Of Dentistry kitself commits a heinous sin.......
How come this became an issue? I don't think they can be considered as criminals, if you are going to ask me.
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