CCTV cameras to start functioning in around two months
Shillong, Oct 16: Security system in the state is being systematically upgraded with a two-phase plan – installation of CCTV cameras and establishment of local command centres.
As part of the plan, CCTV cameras are being installed and will start functioning over 40 localities within the next two months. The local command centres will be controlled by the local headman and the dorbar shnong.
Announcing this after a meeting with various stakeholders on Thursday, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said, “48 localities have been contacted and implementation started of which seven have been completed and another 40 localities will be wired and CCTVs will be active in about 60 days.”
The meeting with stakeholders, including rangbah shnongs and faith-based organisations, discussed ways to improve safety and security of women and children in Shillong and the state as a whole.
In the first phase, the Shillong Municipal Board has identified 47 locations with each locality having three to five locations for CCTV installation.
“Work has already started, and seven locations have been completed, with 40 more to be finished by November or December,” Sangma said.
In the second phase, the CM said, the CCTV control rooms will be connected to the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) at New Shillong.
Sub-command centres to be set up at localities will be available to local headmen and dorbar. Further, they will be connected to ICCC in the next phase.
Initially, the commands centres will be set up in urban areas such as Shillong, Tura and Jowai and then district headquarters, sub-division, etc.
After discussions with schools and localities, the chief minister said, the government would take this initiative further based on the requirement.
“I think this will give a good sense of security and safety to all the people,” Sangma said.
The meeting highlighted the government’s concern over the recent surge in incidents of crime, despite an overall decline in numbers.
Asserting that there has been decline in overall number of incidents, he said the frequency of incidents in the past few weeks and months is a matter of concern for the government.
“We would like to see how we could reduce incidents and how society, rangbah shnongs, organisations and the government can work together to be able to achieve that goal,” he said.
He informed that the government has also taken note of various suggestions that include establishment of more counselling centres and deployment of counsellors to support youngsters, large-scale publicity and awareness campaigns on issues related to youth and children and improvement of streetlighting in vulnerable spots.
Meanwhile, he appealed to citizens to be cautious about false news and information on social media, emphasising the importance of verifying information before reacting. He also urged citizens to trust local leadership, dorbar, and police in handling situations.
The meeting also discussed repair of non-functional streetlights, vigilance in drug prone zones, de-addiction and detoxifying centers, etc.
“We will create a movement, involving all stakeholders to address the problems grappling the community like drug abuse and drug peddling, teenage pregnancies, school drop outs, stigmatisation of victims of crimes and abuse, sensationalism of crimes,” the chief minister posted on X.
“We will come up with pilot programmes to teach awareness to children about safe and unsafe touch, empowering them to speak up and stay safe. Such programs are aimed to create a society that does not shy away from reporting and addressing such issues,” he said.
Seeking support of dorbar shnongs, he said, “We will look into supporting Dorbar Shnongs that are already working towards combatting such issues in their localities.”
He also underlined an unified approach, saying, “While the Government’s efforts are ongoing to tackle the issues, a unified approach is the need of the hour to ensure each and everyone of us take action to ensure a safe and secure environment for children, women and society at large.”
