The state government has sanctioned around Rs 37 lakhs which Jadavpur University had sought for the installation of CCTV cameras in the hostels and on the campus following the death of a first-year student who was allegedly thrown off the balcony of the university’s main hostel.
An official of the department in a letter to the university’s registrar wrote: “I am directed to communicate an administrative and financial approval for Rs 37,38,484 in the financial year 2023-24 for the purpose of CCTV surveillance at Main Gates, Hostel Gates and Salt Lake campus gates of Jadavpur University, allowing WEBEL Technology Ltd, for the said work in relaxation of normal tender rules”.
The university, on August 17, had decided to install CCTV cameras at the entry-exit points of the hostels and the campus, seven days after the death of the 17-year-old student.
“We have already spoken to the WEBEL Technology Ltd. The locations where we want the cameras to be installed have been discussed. Now the funds have also been provided. We expect them to set up the facilities by September,” JU registrar Snehamanju Basu told Metro.
Twelve cameras will be put up at the five gates of the campus, said a JU official. Four cameras each will be installed at the gates of the main hostel (a boys’ hostel located next to the Jadavpur police station) and the girls’ hostel (located on the Jadavpur campus).
Eleven cameras are going to be installed at the main gate, cab gate and boys’ hostel gate of the Salt Lake campus.
“The death has brought to the fore why CCTV cameras are a must. When the police probing the death sought CCTV footage of the main hostel from the JU registrar, she could not provide it because there were none,” the official said.
A JU official said sanctioning funds was vital as the students’ union of the engineering and technology faculty told JU’s officiating VC on August 31 that they would “oppose any surveillance measure” that intends to hamper the free atmosphere and students’ movement on the campus.
“They are opposed to ‘splurging of money’ on CCTV cameras at a time the university is ‘reeling under funds crunch’. Now that the government has sanctioned the funds, we hope there won’t be any more problems,” he said.