Tawde emphasises preventive measures that will ensure safety of girl students in schools, colleges.

While addressing the Maharashtra Legislative Council, School Education Minister Vinod Tawde emphasised the importance of ensuring safety and security arrangements in school and college premises and also said that a committee will be formed to ensure protection to girl students.

The minster was replying to a question raised by Subhash Zambad (Congress) on installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in schools and junior colleges in rural Maharashtra. He said, "The installation of CCTV cameras in schools and junior college premises is not the only solution, it is equally important to impart teenagers health education."

"For this a committee comprising psychologists, women members of the State Legislature and principals of schools and junior colleges shall be set up," he said.

He further said that a committee was earlier set up under Justice Dharmadhikari to prevent atrocities on women. "The committee had recommended installation of CCTV cameras in schools and junior college premises," he said.

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"The CCTV camera feeds are useful as evidence. However, in order to prevent such incidents a committee will be set up by the department," he added.

The minister was on a right arc when he said that CCTV footage was post-event evidence. It is also important to institute a preventive step which helps check these kinds of incidents. He referred to imparting health education in schools and junior colleges so as to prevent unfortunate incidents.

Tawde said that of late incidents of atrocities against girl students in Ahmednagar and other parts of the state are increasing. "The committee will dwell upon how girl students can be kept safe inside school and junior college premises," he said.

Tawde further disclosed that Rs 186 crore will be needed to install CCTV cameras in schools and junior colleges in these schools.

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