GLARING SECURITY LAPSES AT EMINENT SCHOOLS ACROSS INDIA, REVEALS CISF AUDIT
16, Sep 2019
Prelims level : Governance - Institutional Reforms
Mains level : GS-II- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector or Services relating to Education.
Why in News?
- Following the murder of seven-year-old Pradyumna Thakur at a school in Gurgaon in 2017, the paramilitary force had written to various schools offering consultancy services through a security audit. Nearly two dozen schools agreed to the proposal and CISF conducted the audit at nine.
Key Lapses Revealed:
- Some of the most prestigious schools in the country do not provide secure spaces to their students, safety audits conducted by the CISF have revealed.
- Inadequate number of CCTV cameras.
- Lack of background verification of security guards.
- Non-installation of CCTV cameras at proper locations.
- Poor quality of cameras that are not able to recognize individuals and vehicles.
- Lack of fire safety measures in some schools like a non-functional fire hydrant and insufficient fire-fighting gadgets.
- The absence of security gadgets and insufficient lighting.
Consequences:
- The absence of these measures shows that unauthorized entry of individuals and vehicles, smuggling of objectionable items is a big possibility in the schools, making students susceptible to threats.
Way Ahead:
- CISF has given some key recommendations and few of them are:
- The cameras should cover entry and exit gate corridors, lobbies and parameters of the building which was missing in most schools.
- Schools have been asked to procure X-ray Baggage Machines in their canteens to ensure that snacks and other food materials make way to the canteen only after proper inspection.
- CISF has recommended schools to put in place an electronic key management system that will maintain a record of rooms being used.
- Proper installation of fire safety measures like a proper functional fire hydrant and sufficient Fire-Fighting Gadgets.