CCTVs in schools to monitor cooking

In order to keep a vigil on the midday meal preparation and distribution system, the corporations in the national capital will now install CCTV cameras in its schools. The move has come in the backdrop of a Bihar-like tragedy, where 22 students died after consuming of poisonous food. The North and South Delhi Municipal Corporations have asked the NGOs preparing the food for its schoolchildren to install CCTV cameras in and around its kitchen to ensure there is no suspicious activity or entry of unauthorised people within the cooking area . In addition to this, the ruling BJP in North Delhi Municipal Corporation has decided to verify the antecedents of all employees associated with midday meals being supplied in its schools. Similarly, the NGOs serving the food in the corporation schools have been directed to install CCTV cameras in an attempt to increase security in and around kitchens. Supporting the move, Leader of House in North Delhi Corporation, Mahender Nagpal, said that with the installation of the CCTV cameras would help the corporation as it will be able to keep an eye on employees and staff. “Though no casualty has been reported in Delhi, there have been complaints in the past from parents, teachers and other staff members regarding poor quality of food being served in the schools. This can also be done to malign the image of the corporation,” Mr Nagpal said. In the meantime, senior officials of the education committee of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation inspected the kitchens of the NGOs supplying midday meal in its schools. Education committee chairman Satish Upadhyay emphasised on restricted entry in the kitchens to avoid anti-social elements. He said, “Entry of any unauthorised person will be restricted where the food is prepared for the school children. Round the clock monitoring will be done through CCTV cameras to stop outside interference.”