Maharashtra makes it mandatory for schools to install CCTV cameras | Mumbai News

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government on Saturday made it mandatory for all schools to install CCTV cameras and directed principals to review the footage thrice a week. The directive was issued more than a month after two four-year-old girls were allegedly sexually assaulted in the toilet of a school in Badlapur, sparking widespread protests across the state.

The state government on Friday issued a fresh government resolution (GR) regarding the safety of students on school premises, based on suggestions from a committee it constituted after the incident. Last month, the government issued several guidelines for the safety of students in schools.

Under the new regulation, all private schools will now be required to install sufficient number of CCTV cameras at strategic locations. Government and local schools that have not yet installed cameras have been instructed to prioritize their installation. For government schools, the GR said that 5% of the District Planning Commission (DPC) funds would be reserved for this purpose. The government has warned that failure to install CCTV cameras will result in severe consequences, including potential termination of the school’s recognition.

Schools have been instructed to rigorously verify the background of all non-teaching staff, including those hired from external sources or on a contract basis. The GR also suggested appointing female staff to serve students from kindergarten to class 6. She added that the Sakhi Savitri committees, responsible for ensuring the safety of school children, would continue their work.

The WG also suggested establishing a school-level committee on student safety, which would include parents, teachers and school management. This committee must meet monthly to review the school’s student safety record. The government has also established a state commission for student safety, chaired by the education commissioner.