DailyPost 3014
CAMPUSES SECURITY MESS – FROM RG KAR TO ANNA UNIV.
If something unites India in rock solid fashion, then it is our generic lack of taking ownership. We love gaping holes and wide crevices in our systems. If it comes to the security of campuses, the centres of learning, the less said the better. If RG Kar could not make us stand up in awe and bewilderment and to set right campus security, seemingly nothing else can, nothing else will. Notwithstanding whatever has been said, spoken or written, the harsh reality is that all stakeholders are in love with this system, but for the victims of these man made human tragedies in particular and the student community in general. The girls finally end up paying the heaviest price possible, for the management’s lackadaisical approach.
Easy life while making every institution a sponge which can be squeezed to one’s advantage, in every way possible is the name of the game. If the RK Kar resident doctors’ brave and persistent agitation did not yield results, what can be expected from our political parties. While we had barely forgotten the 9th of Sept 204 RG Kar tragedy now we are in for another campus shocker, a student getting raped on the campus of Anna University, located in the heart of Chennai on the evening of 23rd of Dec 2024. The offender again had a criminal background and was allowed to survive in the same ecosystem, as in the earlier RG Kar case.
Academic campuses, even the best of it, in a are a mess in this country, from a security point of view, with no firm steps being taken. Whenever a major rape, murder, assault case against girl student/s happens, the whole issue revolves around criminal investigation, political agitation, social media uproar, and then the dust settles and life is again back to usual. Lip service and sermonising on what should be the copybook system has brought to the verge of disaster. The indifference of all stakeholders is scary, while the girl students continue paying a heavy price. The basic question is, who is responsible for campus security. For sure it is the university or the college management. Till today no fixed person is assigned for this job in standard manner across campuses, tells us the major part of this abysmal story.
Whatever haphazard manner security is being done, does not involve anyone with a security background. The sprawling campuses are dark and desolate. As basic as proper lighting across the campus is unheard of. There is no security regimen or standard operating protocol. What is the nature of access control, no one knows, nor of any restriction to different areas in the campus and timings thereof. What about visitor management? Non-functional CCTVs are a norm. There is no system of video footage audit or real time alerts and action. Governments have exposed themselves to their incapability to deliver. Instead of sermonising on all forms of media, it’s time the campus managements should be forced to put their act together and the police to provide the necessary support, expertise and guidance in the whole process. Only this can be a beginning in the right direction.
ANYONE FACILITATING SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON CAMPUS, BY NON-PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES SHOULD BE LIABLE TO PROSECUTED UNDER CRIMINAL LAW.
Sanjay Sahay