The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has planned to install CCTV cameras in all-girls schools of the civic body. In the first phase of this initiative, CCTVs will be installed in 80 such schools. For this, a budget of Rs 3.80 crore has been approved.
According to civic officials, PMC has around 350 schools, which include co-ed, all-girls and all-boys schools. 250 schools have security guards deployed but they are not adequate. A joint survey conducted by the PMC’s Electrical and Education Departments evaluated the infrastructure of these schools, considering factors such as the number of classrooms and entry points. Based on the survey, the total cost of installing CCTV cameras across all 350 schools was estimated at ₹17 crore. However, due to budgetary constraints, the PMC has decided to implement the project in phases. The initial ₹3.80 crore allocation will be used to cover 80 all-girls schools, while the remaining schools will be included in the 2024-25 municipal budget.
The decision aims to safeguard not only the security of girl students but also to develop the infrastructure after citizens and parents complained that anti-social elements create a nuisance on school premises. The initiative includes schools located in the outer city limits as well as those in the 32 newly merged villages.
Manisha Shektakar, Head of the Electrical Department, PMC, said, "The proposed CCTV cameras will be installed by the end of March, and the rest of the schools will be covered next year. Our priority is to install CCTV cameras in PMC's all-girls schools. In 60 co-ed schools, cameras have already been installed."
