Pune Municipal Corporation to Install CCTV Cameras in 90 More Schools

Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will commence the second phase of CCTV installation at municipal schools after securing funds worth Rs 4 crore for the project last week. This move is part of a broader initiative to enhance safety and modernize educational facilities in the city.

The first phase of the project, completed earlier, saw the installation of CCTV cameras in 91 civic schools. The second phase will cover an additional 90 schools, bringing the total number of schools under surveillance to 181. The corporation runs around 300 schools, including those in the newly merged 34 areas.

"The civic administration carried out a survey of the schools. The list of school buildings where the need for CCTV installation was greater has been prioritized. The remaining schools will be added to the project in phases," said Manisha Shekatkar, head of PMC's electrical department.

The move to install CCTV cameras was inspired by the model school scheme, which started in 2023-24 as a joint initiative of the PMC's education department and estate department. This scheme aims to bring uniformity and modernization to municipal schools across the city. "In the model school scheme, one school from each of the 15 ward offices is selected annually. Work on 15 schools has already been completed, and work on the next batch of 15 is underway," said a senior official of PMC's estate department.

The project was expedited after a sexual assault case at a school in Badlapur in 2024. This incident highlighted the need for enhanced security measures in educational institutions.

The selected schools are being redesigned with a consistent color scheme, standardized flooring, improved toilet designs, and creative BaLA (Building as Learning Aid) paintings. Along with the visual upgrades, the initiative also focuses on critical infrastructure improvements, including repairs to toilets, water tanks, boundary walls, and playgrounds, as well as waterproofing, door and window refurbishment, installation of electrical systems, CCTV surveillance, fire safety equipment, and rainwater harvesting systems.

"The scheme aims to create safe, functional, and inspiring learning environments for students in Pune's civic-run schools. The majority of them come from financially weaker sections," said a senior official of PMC's education department.

Around 1,800 teachers are employed at the PMC-run schools, imparting education in various mediums, including Marathi, English, Urdu, and Kannada. Students from socially and financially weaker sections get admission to these schools. Nearly one lakh students study in these schools.

The installation of CCTV cameras and other modernization efforts are expected to significantly enhance the safety and learning experience for students in Pune's municipal schools.