The Tamil Nadu Agricultural Workers’ Union has urged the Union government to withdraw the mandatory biometric attendance system for workers employed under the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM G], contending that it has deprived the employment of thousands of workers.The demand was made in a resolution adopted at the Western Districts Frontline Workers’ meeting of the union held here recently. The meeting was chaired by State secretary S. Mahendran and attended by State president N. Periyasamy and office-bearers from Erode, Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts.According to the resolution, workers are now required to register their attendance at worksites every day using fingerprint and iris authentication. Earlier, attendance was recorded through the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) and other technology-based monitoring mechanisms.The union alleged that poor internet connectivity and inadequate digital infrastructure in rural areas have rendered the biometric system unreliable, resulting in many genuine workers being marked absent and losing wages. It said the system defeated the objective of the VB-G RAM G scheme, which is intended to guarantee employment to rural households.The meeting urged the State government to press the Union government to withdraw the biometric attendance system and restore a worker-friendly method of recording attendance. It described the present system as anti-worker and called for its immediate abolition. Published - July 04, 2026 05:46 pm IST