NDMC to install CCTV cameras in schools

Days after a seven-year-old girl was raped in a school run by it, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation today announced a series of measures including installation of CCTV cameras in its educational institutes to enhance safety and security of students.
As part of a ten-point programme to improve security, the civic body decided to raise height of boundary walls in all its schools, besides putting in place biometric entry system for all staff of the educational institutions.
The municipal body had come under severe criticism following rape of the minor girl inside a school run by it in Mangolpuri on March 1.

"All schools will be provided with peons and biometric entry for all staff will be put in place. Besides, CCTV cameras will be put up in all schools and boundary walls of every institution will be raised and wires placed on top to provide additional security," said Rekha Gupta, chairperson of NDMC's education committee.
The security measures were formulated based on an enquiry report submitted to NDMC Commissioner by a five-member committee that was formed after the incident.
Besides, entry of visitors will be restricted and no visitor will be allowed to enter school premises without a permission slip.

"Even parents will have to follow this procedure, just like in any private school. The people who come to school carrying mid-day meal will also be issued an identification card after proper police verification," Gupta said after a meeting with the municipal commissioner PK Gupta on the issue.

Meanwhile, to educate school principals on the issue of safety of students, a two-day workshop beginning tomorrow will deal with the challenges in detail.
"The principals will be explicitly told that once a child enters the school, he or she is their responsibility. Also, other measures related to safety and security will also be discussed with them," Gupta said, adding that all the schools will have to implement the security measures by April 30.
"The police have been unable to name a culprit. As a civic body, we have already done what was in our power and that is suspending five people including the principal," the education committee chairperson said.

Meanwhile, Additional Commissioner (Education) Deepak Hastir has been removed from his position following the Mangolpuri incident.
School Inspector Balraj Singh, Principal Neelam Karwal, Class teacher Monica Kohli, school attendant Sushila and watchman Kailash have already been suspended in the wake of the incident.