Female teachers of KVs object to CCTV cameras in staff room

The female teachers of Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) have objected to being under constant electronic surveillance, even in staff rooms.

CCTV cameras breach their privacy and may bear footage of female staff in awkward positions, the teachers alleged at a recent joint consultative meeting (JCM) of KV employees with the administration. They have asked for the footage to be seized immediately to prevent any misuse.

There are 1,128 KVs in the country, with more than 55,000 teachers. The schools installed CCTV cameras for the safety of students and to keep tabs on the quality of teaching.

The staff have submitted a list of demands to the KV administration. “The installation of CCTV in staff rooms, office and regional offices should be stalled immediately... The footage captured with the CCTV should be seized immediately, which may bear the awkward position of female staffs,” complained the teachers, as per the minutes of the meeting.

Sources said the KV administration has decided to issue a circular, directing all schools about the locations where CCTV cameras should be placed. “The exercise is already underway. A list of locations will be issued so that every school follows that. The guidelines for installation would be issued within a week’s time,” said a senior KV official.

The JCM members also mentioned how a few schools were using the footage as a tool to victimise their staff. The meeting further discussed how blatant misuse of cameras installed in retail shops, hotels and public places is a “de facto norm” in India but putting a CCTV in offices and staff rooms where female staff workers sit to relax is a breach of their freedom.

The JCM has hinted at taking legal action against those found guilty. “For the offence, cases of which are multiplying on a daily basis in certain KVs/Regional Offices, one may be constrained to take legal recourse under Section 66E of Information Technology Act, 2000”.