Lok Sabha Question No. 1504 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-01
Subject: Installation of CCTV Cameras in Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Meenakashi Lekhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1504 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.07.2019

## Installation of CCTV Cameras in Schools

## 1504. SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether all the schools have been mandated to install CCTV cameras and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  procedure  followed  by  schools  for  background  verification  of  the  non-teaching staff such as bus conductors or sweepers; and
- (c) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to protect children from physical or mental harassment in schools?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

- (a): 'Education'  being  in  the  concurrent  list  and  a  majority  of  schools  being  under  the jurisdiction of the State Governments, the matter relating to installation of CCTV cameras in schools is within the purview of the respective State Governments.

(b)  &  (c):      The  State  Governments  and  Union  Territory  Administration  have  the  direct responsibility  to  ensure  safety  and  security  of  students  in  schools  under  their  territorial control.   The Ministry of Human Resource Development has issued guidelines in October, 2014  to  all  State/UT  Governments  for  ensuring  safety  and  security  of  school  children, including preventive mechanisms and procedures required to be put in place in the schooling system alongwith relief and redressal strategies in case of any incident.

Following the judgement given in the Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 136 of 2017 and Writ Petition (Civil) No. 874 of 2017 by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, this Department is in the process of preparing guidelines for fixing the accountability of school management in the matter of safety of children studying in schools.

National  Commission  for  Protection  of  Child  Rights  (NCPCR)  has  also  suggested authorities at different levels such as SMC, School Principal, School Management, Education Department and Boards, to conduct safety audits in schools. NCPCR has developed a Manual on safety and security of children in school setting.

Further, CBSE has issued a circular on 12.09.2017 directing the schools affiliated to the  Board  to  take  measures  such  as  psychometric  evaluation  of  teaching  and  non-teaching staff, safety audit of premises, CCTV monitoring, character antecedents verification, visitor management,  training  of  staff  and  setting  up  Internal  Complaints  Committee  on  sexual harassment  and  Committees  under  Protection  of  Children  from  Sexual  Offence  (POCSO) Act,  2012  etc.  to  ensure  safety  of  children.  For  corporal  punishment,  the  Board  has incorporated  a  provision  in  the  Affiliation    Bye-Laws  of  the  Board  for  preventing  cruelty towards  children.  Under  Rule  44.1  (d)  of  Affiliation  Bye-Laws  of  the  Board,  the  school Managing Committee has been empowered to place an employee under suspension if 'he/she is  charged  with  cruelty  with  any  student  or  any  employee  of  the  school'.  Rule  8.5  of Affiliation Bye-Laws provides that the school should scrupulously observe prescription from the Municipal Authority/ District Collector/ Transport Department regarding drinking water, fire safety and transport precautions in the school. The Board has also issued comprehensive guidelines  for  safe  and  effective  use  of  internet  and  digital  technologies  including  CCTV cameras in schools and school buses.

Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangthan (KVS) has issued a circular on 22.12.2014 to all KVs to take necessary precautions including installation of CCTVs etc. It is mandatory for all KVs to  implement  School  Safety  policy  2016  prepared  by  National  Disaster  Management Authority (NDMA).

The  detailed  guidelines  for  ensuring  safety  and  security  of  students  in  Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) have been issued from time to time including the guidelines for installation  of  CCTV  in  all  JNVs.    School  level  complaint  committees  and  cluster  level complaint committees are functional. At headquarter level moral turpitude cases are dealt by summary trial  committees.  Action  against  the  staff  if  found  guilty,  is  taken  and  in  serious cases  upto  termination  of  services  of  staff  is  also  taken  as  per  the  NVS  notification  dated 20.12.1993.

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