Maharashtra Government looking to make CCTV cameras compulsory in private buildings

State Home Minister, Anil Deshmukh spoke to the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, and assured the opposition leaders that the government is putting measures in place to handle women’s safety more efficiently. 

He also said that the State Government is considering making some changes to the building proposal rules and make CCTV cameras mandatory in all private complexes. This, Deshmukh said, will help the government monitor the city more effectively while also tackling the crime rate.  

“The government is looking to make changes to the building proposal rules to make installation of cameras within the premises of the existing and new buildings in the city. The cameras will be linked with the surveillance network of the police and help in reducing the crime rate, especially crimes against women,” Deshmukh said. 

He also mentioned that the government has already installed 5,000 CCTV cameras in the city and will add 5,600 more cameras across the city in the next few months. Deshmukh gave out the information at the Legislative Assembly while responding to the opposition’s demands for a debate motion pertaining to atrocities against women. The opposition also raised the issue of inadequate relief/compensation to the drought-affected farmers in Maharashtra.

Deshmukh said that a new law will be passed in order to provide stricter punishment to those who commit crimes against women. This law will reportedly be drafted along the lines of the Disha Act (Andhra Pradesh Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2019) which was passed by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly in December 2019.

Maharashtra’s version of the Disha Act will reportedly be drafted in tandem with women legislators as well as NGOs. With this in mind, the Home Department held a meeting of all the women legislators in the state on Tuesday. 

Women’s safety is a crucial factor for any metropolitan city of the world, including Mumbai. With the state’s announcement to keep the city open 24x7, taking necessary measures to ensure the safety of women is of paramount importance.