The new officiating vice-chancellor of Jadavpur University said on Monday CCTV cameras would be installed in the corridors of all departments.
Buddhadeb Sau, who took over the responsibility of helming JU, made the statement after his first meeting with the heads of the departments.
The geography and mathematics departments, he said, already have CCTV cameras in their corridors.
“The heads of all departments have not objected to cameras being installed in the corridors of the departments. Geography and mathematics departments already have them,” Sau, a professor of mathematics, said after a meeting of the anti-ragging committee that was attended by the departmental heads.
The head of an engineering department said he spoke of the need to install CCTV cameras at strategic points because complaints of theft of laptops and other equipment are on the rise.
“We had passed a resolution in a meeting of our board of studies for the installation of CCTV cameras. But the university authorities did not approve the decision then. Now that a first-year undergraduate student has died, the authorities are taking proactive steps. Hope our proposals would be implemented now,” the professor said after the meeting.
When the police asked for CCTV footage from the main hostel, where the 17-year-old was allegedly ragged and thrown from a second-floor balcony, JU registrar Snehamanju Basu could not provide any because there were no cameras on the premises.
“In its show-cause notice to JU, the commission for protection of child rights had last week highlighted the absence of CCTV cameras,” said a JU official.
Partha Pratim Ray, general secretary of the JU Teachers’ Association, wondered where the money for the CCTV cameras will come from, given the funds crunch the university is facing.
“Not just CCTV cameras, there is also a need to increase human surveillance and install lights across the campus. The university has decided to hire ex-servicemen as security personnel in the hostels. Since the university does not have funds, the state government has to provide the support,” Ray told Metro.
The officiating VC told this newspaper on Sunday: “We will write to the state government for funds for the installation of CCTV cameras at strategic points on the campus and at hostels and the hiring of ex-servicemen.”
He said on Monday emphasis would be laid on the mental health of the students. “Group counselling will be done, especially for students who are traumatised or feeling insecure,” he said.
“An anti-ragging squad will be formed to maintain vigil throughout the year,” he said. “We will also invite parents of the students in an orientation programme and listen to their concerns.”
