Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) geo-fencing and face-recognition data for December 2025 to February 17, 2026, reveals a stark attendance slide among sanitary workers across all 10 zones. While the average in-count attendance stands at around 84–86%, the mid-count drops to nearly 65–70%, and the out-count hovers between 72–78%, exposing a consistent mid-shift disappearance trend.The three-month zonal efficiency reports show that workers were largely present during early morning attendance marking, but a sizeable percentage failed to register during mid-duty face scans. The pattern held across Ashi Nagar, Dharampeth, Lakadganj, Hanuman Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Mangalwari, Nehru Nagar, Gandhibagh, Dhantoli, and Sataranjipura. There were around 7,000 sanitary workers, out of which 5,000-odd were deployed across 38 prabhags in 10 municipal zones to sweep 4,000 km roads. Their irregularity can also be gauged by the city’s zero marks for uncleaned roads during the Swachh Bharat survey.In February (till February 17), Ashi Nagar recorded 86.81% in-count but only 63.63% mid-count. Dharampeth showed 86.09% in against 56.68% mid. Lakadganj posted 92.05% in, but mid dipped to 69.24%. Sataranjipura reflected 84% in versus 62.34% mid. Similar trends were visible in Hanuman Nagar (90.39% in vs 75.43% mid) and Nehru Nagar (84.45% in vs 75.96% mid).January data was even more alarming, with several zones recording over 30 minutes of average delay and steeper mid-count declines. Lakadganj’s 85.25% in-count fell sharply to 60.39% mid-count. Mangalwari showed 77.58% in versus 55.56% mid. Dharampeth recorded 81.54% in but only 57.70% mid.December figures, though marginally better in out-counts, also showed consistent gaps between morning and mid-shift attendance, indicating that the issue was structural rather than seasonal.Newly elected Congress corporators Shailesh Pande, Abhijeet Jha, and others raised the matter, alleging irregular sweeping of roads and mounting citizen complaints. They argued that while NMC cited staff shortages, the face-recognition data suggested absenteeism during crucial working hours.The geo-fencing system was meant to eliminate proxy attendance and ensure field presence. However, the widening gap between in-count and mid-count now raises uncomfortable questions about on-ground supervision.With sanitation directly linked to public health and civic perception, the administration faces mounting pressure to tighten monitoring, conduct surprise inspections, and link wages to verified mid and out counts. As corporators prepare to escalate the issue in the general body, the numbers are already speaking loudly.
