Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation’s Initiative Should Be Emulated by Others – Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

Thane : Chief Minister Eknath Shinde urged other Municipal Corporations to follow the example set by the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation during the inauguration of the “Intermediate School Control Room” for CCTV in the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation area.

The event, held at the Bharat Ratna Ganasmaragyi Mangeshkar Natyagriha on Teacher’s Day, was inaugurated via video link by Chief Minister Shinde.

Present at the ceremony were MLA Pratap Sarnaik, Mira-Bhayander-Vasai-Virar City Police Commissioner Madhukar Pandey, Additional Commissioner Aniket Manorkar, City Engineer Deepak Khambit, Deputy Commissioners Kalpita Pimple, Dr. Sachin Bangar, and Sanjay Donde (Headquarters), along with municipal officials and students.

In his address, Chief Minister Shinde emphasized the importance of student safety, stating that CCTV footage should be monitored to prevent any misconduct. He stressed that safety measures have been tightened within the school education department and that the state must remain a leader in educational standards. He highlighted the foundational work of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule in education and emphasized the prioritization of women’s safety. He urged thorough background checks for school staff, the installation of complaint boxes in schools, and proper management by institution heads. He also mentioned that the “Shakti” Act is awaiting central approval and reiterated that the government is committed to supporting and protecting students, especially girls. Women police are encouraged to increase regular patrolling in schools.

Commissioner Sanjay Katkar introduced the initiative, noting that Mira-Bhayander, with a population of 1.2 million, has 36 municipal schools with 10,000 students. He reported that 200 CCTV cameras have been installed in these schools, with education provided free of charge from grades 1 to 10. Regular monitoring of footage is being carried out, and strict action will be taken against any wrongdoing. As per a government decision dated February 24, 2024, CCTV installation is mandated for both municipal and private schools. This cell, established under the guidance of Chief Minister Shinde and Commissioner Katkar, represents a significant step towards ensuring student safety.

The control room is equipped with state-of-the-art servers, a backup generator, and approximately 1,000 CCTV cameras. It features an updated camera monitoring system, including computers, a video wall, a meeting room, and spacious air-conditioned facilities. Initially focusing on municipal schools, the initiative plans to extend CCTV coverage to all private schools in Mira-Bhayander. The control room team will monitor and preserve CCTV footage from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., aiming to handle student safety issues sensitively and prevent future incidents.