The Maharashtra School Education Department last week reiterated its directive for all government and local body schools to install CCTV camera circuits, either under the District Annual Plan or through other funding provisions. The move comes in response to recurring reports of child abuse in both public and private schools across Mumbai.

While many parents welcome the initiative, they warn that simply installing cameras is not enough. “To gain a parent’s trust, CCTV cameras alone won’t suffice. Issues like blind spots, limited or edited footage, and lack of monitoring, along with uncovered areas such as washrooms and storage rooms, still leave children vulnerable,” said a Mumbai parent whose daughter was allegedly a POCSO victim.