By Parag : CCTV’s cameras are the installed for surveillance purposes. These cameras are installed mostly in government institutions, banks and railways and now it is college campus. These cameras are installed in banks and other institutions to maintain their security.
Installing cameras in college campus is an issue as some students think that it affects their living in some or the other way. However, the management of institutions say that they are installed for security purposes.
In general, CCTV’s are installed in colleges to maintain discipline and to check whether students are abiding the rules and regulations of college or not. It also keeps a check of illegal activities happening in the college campus.
One of India’s top most universities; Jadavpur University faced a huge protest by students from different political associations against installing CCTV’s cameras in the University. The management installed them to tackle Maoists activities. Students also believed that it wastage of money. United Students Democratic Forum said that students are not terrorists and this is an apparent intrusion to their freedom. However, the management is also correct with respect to the security purpose.
Students feel that they are continuously under observation by the principal and relate themselves to the participants of the famous show “Big Boss”. These Cameras make students cautious and live life with anxiety. The cameras installed in college campus somehow restrict the freedom of the youth.
From the management point of view, there is a great need of security especially to the girls in the college campus. They never aimed to breach student’s privacy or their freedom. College is a social institution and students come to college to receive education. Thus students can freely move about in the college without being cautious unless they are doing something against the rules of the college.
Hence it is observed that installing cameras in college campus somehow affects the behaviour of students but does not breach their privacy.
“A cctv in college campus can only bother the students who want to create ruckus and don’t want to come on record ! If students r coming to college for studying ..they should hardly have any objection to this ! Eve teasing is on rise everywhere around.. CCTVs can definitely help. Also in case of any fights etc between groups the footage would come handy.. ! If someone is not committing a crime why should one be worried ?”