The push for CCTV cameras in schools gained momentum following a tragic incident in 2017 when a seven-year-old student was killed inside a washroom at a school in Gurugram
In a bid to ensure the safety and security of students, the Delhi government has installed CCTV cameras in government schools. However, nearly half of these cameras are currently non-operational due to internet issues and other related problems, leading to criticism from the Congress party. Congress spokesperson Siddharth Roy accused the Kejriwal-led government and Education Minister Atishi Singh of compromising student safety by failing to maintain these security systems.
The Delhi government initiated the CCTV camera project in 2019, aiming to curb criminal activities in schools and provide a secure environment for students. As part of this initiative, a total of 78,746 CCTV cameras have been installed in government-operated schools across the city. According to government data, only 40,408 of these cameras are functional, while 38,338 are defunct.
The Public Works Department (PWD) is responsible for the installation and maintenance of the CCTV systems. The non-functioning cameras have been attributed to a lack of internet facilities, unclear footage due to dirty lenses, and recent rains causing wiring issues.
A senior PWD official commented on the situation, stating, “Many schools, particularly those in remote or densely populated areas, are experiencing internet issues or lack internet access altogether. Efforts are underway to resolve these problems. Currently, in many schools, cameras are operational at the local level and are monitored by the principal and the Head of School (HOS). We are working to connect all these cameras to a centralized software system that will feed footage to the command control room (CCR) for monitoring.”
Despite these challenges, footage from 38,338 cameras has been linked to the monitoring cell. An Education Department official noted, “PWD is implementing the project. Recent rains have caused wiring issues in several schools. We have informed the maintenance and CCR teams to address these issues promptly.”
The Congress party has seized upon the technical issues plaguing the CCTV project as evidence of what they describe as the Kejriwal government’s failure to deliver on promises. Congress spokesperson Siddharth Roy criticized the AAP government for launching initiatives without ensuring adequate maintenance, resulting in the failure of these schemes over time.
Roy remarked, “The government under Kejriwal is notorious for making false promises while neglecting essential tasks. This issue is evident with the installation of CCTV cameras, over half of which are reportedly non-functional. He claimed that the AAP government relies heavily on social media to spread misinformation about their achievements while actually deceiving the people of Delhi.”
The push for CCTV cameras in schools gained momentum following a tragic incident in 2017 when a seven-year-old student was killed inside a washroom at a school in Gurugram. This incident raised significant safety concerns among parents and led to widespread calls for increased security measures in educational institutions nationwide.
As the Delhi government grapples with these challenges, efforts are being made to improve the connectivity and functionality of CCTV cameras in schools. The government is working on connecting all cameras to a centralized monitoring system to ensure that student safety is not compromised.
The situation highlights the broader issues of maintaining technological infrastructure in schools, especially in areas with limited internet access. As Delhi continues to address these problems, the effectiveness of the CCTV project remains a critical point of discussion, with both political and public scrutiny ensuring that the focus stays on student safety and security.
