Directorate of Education kicks-off CCTV project in classrooms as per the deadline: Delhi government

The Directorate of Education (DoE) has initiated the process to implement the Delhi government's ambitious project of installing 1.2 lakh CCTV cameras in all its schools according to the schedule given in its Budget for fiscal 2018-19. However, several schools claimed to have no information regarding this, as of now.

According to the Budget released on March 22, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had proposed Rs 175 crore for installing as many as 150-200 CCTV cameras in each school building by January 1, 2019. Under this project, the parents will be able to access live footages from their wards' classrooms. "The project is on track as per the schedule given in the Budget. The Public Work Department (PWD) has already submitted a preliminary estimate for the project following its timeline of April 7," said DoE Director Soumya Gupta.

While officials at the PWD's engineering department said that they conducted preliminary inspections in government schools before submitting the estimate, some schools claimed to have no information in this regard. "We have not received any update on the project as of now. The deadline for submission of an estimate was April 7. How can the PWD submit a preliminary estimate without visiting or contacting all the schools?" said a principal at one of the five Delhi government's Schools of Excellence.

Similarly, a principal at a government boys' school in south Delhi said, "We were told that some PWD engineers would visit for an inspection. However, we are yet to get an update on it."

The DoE, however, asserted to complete the project on time."It's a huge project wherein some 1.5 lakh CCTV cameras will be installed in more than 1,024 government schools. An Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) Memorandum has to be approved by the Delhi government's finance department before sanctioning the required expenditure. Everything is going according to the timeline set for the project," Gupta said.

The project, however, received huge criticism from teachers. "We have no issue with recording the classes. It will be even good for us as it will also be a proof of our hard work. But it can turn out to be a blatant violation of a teacher's Right to Privacy, especially for female teachers," said a female government teacher.

The Delhi government had announced to make CCTV footages live for parents in January after several cases of harassment against children were reported in schools from across the national Capital.

LIVE FOOTAGE

The Delhi government had announced to make CCTV footages live for parents in January after several cases of harassment against children were reported in schools