Odisha to Equip All Schools with CCTV Cameras for Enhanced Student Safety

Bhubaneswar: Aiming to fortify student safety across the education system, the Odisha government has unveiled plans to install CCTV cameras in all schools statewide. The initiative, modeled after the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) school safety mandate, seeks to create a secure and closely monitored academic environment.

State School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond said the proposal is under active discussion and is being prepared for swift implementation. Once approved by the state cabinet following inter-departmental consultations, the rollout will begin in phases.

The state is also reinforcing its stance on zero tolerance towards gender-based harassment. Gond announced that Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) will be set up in every school to address cases of sexual harassment and discrimination, in accordance with the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act.

“The government is committed to ensuring the safety, dignity, and empowerment of women and children in the education sector,” Gond stated. He also noted the introduction of dedicated helpline numbers to ensure timely and confidential grievance redressal.

CBSE-affiliated schools are already mandated to install high-resolution CCTV systems with audio-visual recording under the “School Safety” section of its Affiliation Bye-Laws 2018. Odisha’s upcoming policy aims to align all schools in the state—government and private alike—with this safety benchmark.

The surveillance infrastructure is expected to deter misconduct, boost accountability, and instill confidence among students, parents, and staff.