Colleges install CCTV cameras, posers on footage monitoring

Pune: The recent fights on the campuses of Fergusson College as well as Garware College have prompted the deputy director of education to personally check all colleges in the city for installation of CCTV cameras.
The problem with the cameras is not installation, but the lack of a system to continuously monitor the feed, say students and activists.
Of 82 aided colleges in Pune, managements of 39 colleges have said they have both CCTV cameras and anti-harassment committees.Vijay Narkhede, joint director of higher education for Pune division, said that a physical inspection is needed to make sure the installation is for real.
"We told all colleges to submit information on CCTV cameras and constitution of anti-sexual harassment committees on the campus. We have got the data from a few colleges. We plan to inspect them. Notices will be sent to those not following the norms and action will be taken against them," added Narkhede.
Activists, however, are not very optimistic if action will be taken againt those who fail to comply. "Many rules are binding on colleges, but implementation is never good. Colleges know that there will never be an inspection and hence fill in false data when administration asks for it," said Matin Mujawar, an education activist. "Secondly, most camera feeds go to the principal's office where there is no one to monitor them. Hence, the entire exercise is pointless if nobody is seeing what is happening on the campus," added Mujawar.
Students said that CCTVs are installed, but hardly any watch is kept over them, making the entire exercise pointless. "Half of the CCTVs installed are not in working. And no watch is kept on those that are functioning. What is the point of CCTVs if they are used after an untoward incident happens rather than for official help when an incident is happening in the campus," said Mohammad Saif, a student.
Saif said that even anti-sexual harassment committees are rarely used by the students because they are never publicized in the campus.
"The committees are supposed to hold a lot of workshops to win students' trust. But nothing of that sort happens. Even if a student goes and complaints to the committee or principal, the accused is scolded and the matter is settled to save the college's reputation," added Saif.
Voices:
Currently, there is no provision to keep a watch over CCTV footage. No person has been assigned for the purpose. Hence, we use the footage only to verify or cross check if any incident has happened. But we understand the need to have someone who will be there to check the feed continuously. We will definitely think about appointing such a person in the near future
Ravindrasinh G Pardeshi, principal of Fergusson College
We have a person whose job is to monitor CCTV footage. If anything happens, he immediately informs the administration. He is so techno savvy that he can also cut a clip, in case he finds something suspicious, and send it to me on my cellphone. There is also an app through which I can watch the campus even when I am at home. But there are obviously limitations as to how much can someone watch with so many cameras around
A R Bhalerao, principal of College of Engineering, Bharati Vidyapeeth
We have 16 cameras on the campus and 16 more will be installed soon. The live feed reaches my office and the registrar's office. I monitor the feed even during meetings. In my absence, which is rare, my registrar watches the feed. I don't think there is any need to appoint a separate person for just watching the feed
Shrikant Gupta, principal of Abasaheb Garware College