CCTV in Hyderabad school

Gachibowli school installs CCTV accessible to parents via mobile application

In Bengaluru, it is compulsory in schools after the rape of the 6-year-old

In the aftermath of the gang-rape of a six-year-old student in a Bengaluru school, a school in Hyderabad has taken high-tech measures to ensure safety of their students. Sunshine Preschool and Daycare, Gachibowli, has installed Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) system and parents have been given access through a mobile application.

Krishna Chaitanya, parent of a 3-year-old who studies in the pre-school, says, "I can watch my child whenever I want. On safety concern, it’s very convenient. I feel confident."

Another parent Sirisha added, "This age group needs care and proper attention. It's a good step by the school." The mobile application feature has been attracting more parents to the school. It's a system that many feel other schools should replicate. Amit Kishore Prasad, managing director of Sunshine School, said, "It is the responsibility of schools to ensure safety of students. Every school should take the initiative of CCTV surveillance.”

Following the incident at Bengaluru, the Bengaluru City police had issued guidelines which made it mandatory for managements to install CCTV cameras and GPS device in school buses and appoint Floor Vigilance Officers (FVOs) to ensure safety of students. The guidelines, which are applicable to all pre-nursery, nursery, middle and high schools, should be implemented by September 15, failing which prosecution proceedings would be initiated against the managements under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (negligence leading to injury or death of a person).

When asked if similar initiatives would be taken in Hyderabad, Addl Commissioner Anjani Kumar said, “The initiative by the Bengaluru Police was a knee-jerk reaction to the incident. While we on the contrary are much ahead.”

“In 2013, the Andhra Pradesh government introduced the 'AP Public Safety (Measures) Enforcement Act, 2013' which made it mandatory for all establishments, where a gathering of 100 or more people is expected at a point in time, to provide access controls and install CCTV surveillance cameras. In the current scenario, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are the only two states which have made CCTVs mandatory,” he explained.

As an initiative to boost the law, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and police commissionerates in the city recently started the ‘Our City Safe City’ programme. October has been set as a deadline for the same proposal. Both programmes aim to have as much as one lakh CCTV cameras across the city.

“The police have been conducting various awareness campaigns across the city about the benefits of CCTV cameras. We are sure that in the next six months all establishments, including government schools, would have CCTV cameras,” Anjani Kumar added.

According to Police Commissioner Mahendar Reddy, “Installation of CCTV is a must for all government departments, authorised to issue licence for trade. All cameras must have provision for storage of video for 30 days and should be high definition.”

Mahendar Reddy feels that one CCTV camera is equal to 12 constables. With the installation of CCTVs crime rates have drastically come down in several areas.

Police inspectors having jurisdiction over the area may at any time, without prior notice, enter any establishment, inspect and check the installation and functioning of CCTV cameras and in case of any snag, shall send a report to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) or the sub divisional police officer having jurisdiction in the area.