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Haryana Mandates Enhanced CCTV Surveillance in All Child Care Institutions for Child Safety
- •The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has recommended robust and effective CCTV surveillance in all Child Care Institutions (CCIs) across Haryana to bolster child safety and security.
- •CCTV coverage must be functional at all necessary locations, with footage stored and backed up for a minimum of six months, a significant increase from the previously inadequate one-month storage observed at Place of Safety-I, Madhuban.
- •The recommendation follows an inquiry into assault allegations at Place of Safety, Madhuban, Karnal, which, while unsubstantiated by police, highlighted broader surveillance deficiencies.
- •The HHRC, led by Justice Lalit Batra, expanded its recommendations beyond Madhuban to include all CCIs in Haryana, such as Children’s Homes, Open Shelters, and Special Homes.
- •CCTV cameras are mandated for installation at key locations including entry/exit points, reception, corridors, kitchens, pantries, dormitories, and washroom entry/exit points, ensuring children's privacy and dignity are respected.
Key Questions Answered
The Haryana Human Rights Commission recommended ensuring functional CCTV coverage at all key locations in Child Care Institutions across the state, with recording, storage, and backup facilities to preserve footage for a minimum period of six months. Cameras must cover entry points, corridors, kitchens, dormitories, and washroom entrances while respecting children's privacy.
The order followed a police inquiry into assault allegations at the Place of Safety in Madhuban, Karnal, which were unsubstantiated. However, the Commission noted that existing CCTV cameras at the facility had only a one-month backup and lacked coverage inside children's dormitories, prompting a broader state-wide directive.
The Member Secretary-cum-Director of the Women and Child Development Department in Panchkula, working in coordination with all Deputy Commissioners across Haryana, must review CCTV arrangements in every Child Care Institution and take necessary corrective measures. District authorities are required to submit compliance reports, leading to a consolidated state-level report for the Commission.
