The West Bengal higher education department is set to approve Rs 37 lakh for the installation of CCTV cameras at Jadavpur University (JU), responding to concerns raised after the alleged ragging-related death of a 17-year-old student on August 10.

An official from the higher education department revealed that while the decision to allocate the funds has been made, the final proposal with specific details has yet to be sent to the finance department.

JU’s officiating vice-chancellor, Buddhadeb Sau, confirmed the potential allocation but mentioned that the university is still awaiting official communication. The funds will facilitate the installation of CCTV cameras across the campus to enhance security.

Addressing opposition from some Students’ Federation of India (SFI) students against certain areas being monitored, Sau expressed willingness to discuss their concerns and requested a formal proposal from them.

Sau previously mentioned that the installation process would commence within a few days, focusing on strategic locations. Additionally, the university has issued the work order for the camera installation.

To address security issues through remote sensing, JU is planning to collaborate with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), with an ISRO team scheduled to visit the campus for discussions.

While differing opinions exist among student unions, with SFI advocating consultation prior to implementing camera surveillance, Trinamool Chhatra Parishad and ABVP are urging comprehensive surveillance across the campus.

The incident leading to these security measures involved a 17-year-old student who fell from a hostel balcony after alleged ragging and sexual abuse by seniors. The tragedy led to widespread protests and rallies near JU, sparking nationwide attention.

Source: PTI

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