CCTVs, barbed fencing proposed for UT schools

Rajinder Nagarkoti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 22

In the wake of the advisory issued by the Union Home Ministry for taking safety measures in schools after the Peshawar massacre, the UT Finance-cum-Education Secretary, Saravjit Singh, today sent a proposal to UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil for the installation of CCTV cameras in schools and barbed wires on the boundary walls, besides other safety measures.

Confirming the development, the UT Finance-cum-Education Secretary said after holding a meeting with officials of the Education Department, he had sent a note to the UT Administration, proposing the installation of CCTV cameras and barbed wires on the boundary walls of schools, besides deployment of guards.

He clarified that if the proposed changes came in the way of the UT building bylaws, the UT could relax the bylaws as human life was more important than the building bylaws.

The Union Home Ministry had directed the schools to have proper boundary walls with barbed wires, to deploy security guards with walkie-talkie sets round the clock, install surveillance cameras and ensure adequate lights and regular drills.

Six years ago, private schools in the city had faced problems. The schools that had raised boundary walls after receiving similar instructions were later issued notices by the UT Estate Office for building violations.

DPI (Schools) Kamlesh Kumar said the UT Administration had already adopted certain precautionary steps as mentioned in the advisory. New infrastructure would be raised in all schools in the near future, he said.