By Mehroo Batra
The start of the new season will also mark the beginning of Delhi University coming under the secure lens of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras. These cameras will be installed in and around the campus. After repeated demands of teachers and student organisations, Delhi Police has decided to put up forty six CCTVs on the North Campus by the end of this month.
The police hope to install around sixteen zooming cameras and thirty fixed ones by June 15th. The cameras will be installed at strategic locations such as the college gates, the dean of students’ welfare and vice-chancellor’s offices and nearby areas that have concentrated PG accommodations such as Mukherjee Nagar and Kamla Nagar.
A handful of colleges already have CCTV cameras. For instance, Sri Venkateswara College in South Campus has these cameras since last 8 years. The cameras are located in the canteen, the lobby and the library. The college authorities say that the cameras have proven beneficial to the college as it helps in monitoring student activities. Hansraj College also has four CCTV cameras installed in their campus- one camera each in front of the main gate, the library, the field area and the canteen.
However the question that arises is whether or not this system of invisible omniscience aimed at ensuring the safety of students, is the right way to go about things. These glass lenses watch impassively as we move about our daily lives, recording, noting all. Surveillance innately lowers the trust and increases suspicion. Don’t students have rights to go about their lives without this level of suspicion? The implication being that students are no longer trustworthy, branded guilty before the act. After all if you have something to hide, then you must be guilty. Where does privacy exist in such a setting? Isn’t privacy a fundamental right of all human beings?
Remember the nightmare you once had? When you thought someone was watching you. Well its true-. Big brother is watching you, for your own safety.
![empty_stadiums[3]](http://dubeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/empty_stadiums31-50x50.jpg "empty_stadiums[3]")
12 comments
Tauseef says:
Jul 1, 2008
Privacy is a fundamental right of all human beings, but security is a bigger concern.
Getting teased or raped is a bigger nightmare …….isn’t????????
Its better to be on CCTV than to be on News Channels next day.
Tauseef says:
Jul 1, 2008
few clips from DU Beats itself
Students alleged sexual molestation in Ramjas College by the Vice Principal, BN Ray, leading to his suspension.
• An American national, studying Ancient India in addition to Sanskrit, at St. Stephens was molested by a professor.
• Over the past year, there has been an increased influx of drugs in Delhi University
wanna say sum thing?
Tauseef says:
Jul 1, 2008
Students alleged sexual molestation in Ramjas College by the Vice Principal, BN Ray, leading to his suspension.
• An American national, studying Ancient India in addition to Sanskrit, at St. Stephens was molested by a professor.
• Over the past year, there has been an increased influx of drugs in Delhi University
Aniruddh says:
Jul 1, 2008
In different colleges students are often harassed, cameras are often used in order to trouble students further by corrupt officials. I am not saying it happens everywhere, but I know cases where students have been humiliated for no fault of their own.
It’s a very valid point you are making. But then what does this mean? Is the campus really that unsafe? And then, when does it stop. It starts with secluded corridors and libraries, then we go on to canteens, then I am sure people will be installing cameras in hostel bedrooms. Isn’t that where the boy got ragged so horrendously? And then if it is so effective, then how many more years until we have cameras tracing our every movements in our bedrooms.
I am not saying it doesn’t work. Thats the thing about the Panopticon, its highly effective. But its not the RIGHT
Aniruddh says:
Jul 1, 2008
way to do things. Fear might be effective, but unless people see reason it won’t work.
Of course, if one feels that the end justifies the mean, then there isn’t much to say. After all we have been declared the fat-a-fat generation.
Tauseef says:
Jul 2, 2008
Do u want me to give details of how safeeee Delhi is? if we are feeling little safe on cost of our soooo called privacy then i think the deal is perfect .
I dunno since when corridors , libraries, canteens,roads are included in Private Places.
talking about future … yeah if our bedrooms will be as unsafe as our campus / roads /public places are then …”BIG Brother ” will be invited in most of the bedrooms .
Dhaval says:
Jul 2, 2008
I feel the premise falls flat in the article itself. Privacy rights and having camera’s in a public setting are two very different issues to me. First one addresses a much larger scope beyond camera’s (im talking about health records, email access, bank information). The latter is about safety and security.
For the purposes of safety, especially in a a high-crime city like Delhi, it could only provide black-white evidence and help keep a check on not-so-legal activities of students, faculty and yes even the authorities.
What I would advocate is instead of Police authorities, the University system take up the onus of providing necessary security measures, surveillance, SAFE walk staff, etc… perhaps even University Police.
PS- Privacy is a right that is often abused/distorted in the public eye, instead of being cherished.
Neha says:
Jul 2, 2008
@ tauseef: no offense to u man…but you sound kinda psycho. okay so things are unsafein delhi…and yes i should know that better than u simply cuz im a girl. but still…i’d rather have my freedom to do as i please. i can handle myself and dont need to be monitored like a five year old fucking child.
i’s pretty sure i can deal with situations that come my way. i dont need mommy and daddy to have my back all the time. GROW UP!!! i mean, do u realise…ure supporting a “THEY”!! and u dont even know who THEY are!
I mean for all u know THEY could be the perverts ogling at the girls and taking out guns at every instance. unless, ur a fan of voyeuristic pleasures or smtn similarly creey…i dont understand why u’d be so hyper. i mean u want these ppl in ur bedroom?!?!? really? god! i pity the girl u end up with…poor her.
Tauseef says:
Jul 2, 2008
CCTV is just a small part of security system which needs to be developed inside the campus, and as a part of campus every student has to accept it even if it costs PRIVACY AT PUBLIC PLACES LOL…
I am still unable to understand “PRIVACY AT PUBLIC PLACES�….really
Neha what kinds of thing you do in corridors, libraries or canteens, which u require to hide …? Or you prefer these places over your bedroom????? Because I feel that level of privacy of ur bedroom and ur college corridor is similar, eighter too many people walk inside your bedroom or u sleep and do other bedroom necessities in ur college corridor. I don’t want to comment on guy(s) in ur life because I feel its too personal and private…And I respect privacy.
Management is trying to help students by keeping eye on not –so-legal activities inside the campus and you are naming it as “voyeuristic pleasures� then dear friend you need help from some expert. Go to airports /railway stations /malls /banks …everywhere security ppl are watching you for your own safety, soo all of them are doing their duty for “voyeuristic pleasures�???????
Be little mature … u don’t like to be monitored like a fucking 5 year old……. fine, this whole arrangement is not exclusively for you, people who are not as burly as you are…It will certainly help them…
Thanks
Neha says:
Jul 2, 2008
till now…people who are monitored always are prisoners, psychotics, ciminals in custody, etc…
are we in that catergory simply by virtue of being students?
and…the question of bedroom privacy equated with canteens and colleges was brought about by u..
its SOO childish and cliched to try and insult a girl by doubting her sexuality…come up with something new for heavens sake!
Danny says:
Jul 3, 2008
Infact Tauseef..has it ever occurred to you that you might want to bunk a class without been caught on CCTV???? I agree with Not having CCTvs simply for the reason that we dont want college to be safe for fun suckers and their big brothers only!
Tauseef says:
Jul 3, 2008
I never knew that all security checks at public palces across the globe are ment for prisoners, psychotics & ciminals in custody…
so next time when ur bags will be checked at enterence of PVR ….. ..ur going to tag urself as a psycotic or hardcore criminal ????
The point is …we are not living in a very safe world ..and we have to compromise with our privacy for sake of our own safety .
i feel that this debate is getting boaring…. sooo thanks & bye