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Ludhiana government schools turn sitting ducks for burglars amid limited security
Multiple schools have fallen prey to burglars in recent months — with thieves decamping with equipment worth several lakhs in the absence of watchmen and other security measures.
While the state is pushing for an infrastructure upgrade at government schools, the responsibility of needing to guard the new projectors and computers has fallen on the shoulders of school managements.
Struggling to accomplish the same, multiple schools have fallen prey to burglars in recent months — with thieves decamping with equipment worth several lakhs in the absence of watchmen and other security measures.
A number of theft cases have been registered across government schools in the district in recent months, with a majority taking place over weekends.
Jassian village alone was hit by back-to-back burglaries — with miscreants first targeting the government middle school on September 18 before stealing from the primary school on October 3.
Burglars stole CCTV cameras, a battery, a printer, while also damaging the registers in the former instance. The theft at the latter saw them take even trifling items including a gas cylinder, sports equipment, uniforms and utensils in addition to school computers,LEDs and a projector. The thieves were caught on the CCTV cameras installed at the school premises, but no arrests were made.
Manju Rani, a teacher at the middle school, which has over 200 students and 5 teachers, meanwhile, said the staff found locks of the computer room broken and CCTV cameras stolen, “The thieves had undertaken the heist on Sunday as there was no caretaker or watchmen to look after the school.”
In August this year, burglars had also broken into government high school Brahampuri and stole a projector, processor, two speakers, a mouse and a keyboard.
Other schools which have been targeted by thieves in the past include the government primary school in Bangsipura, Rangian and Nangal falling in Dehlon block.
Alarming lack of peons, watchmen
The same has resulted in heightened security corners at government schools. Speaking of the same, officials from the district education department say around 80% of the upper primary and senior secondary schools are without any peon or watchman. There are no sanctioned posts for Class 4 employees in primary schools.
‘Education suffers’
Teachers at some of the schools that have been targeted recently said the loss of important gadgets and equipment has not only affected education dearly but has also created a sense of fear among them. GPS Jassian headteacher Shvaita Hastir said the theft came as a huge shock and has hit the school even more given the dearth of funds for infrastructure.
“We had just one projector for over 500 students in the school, it would cost around 1 lakh rupees to buy a new one. She said that each of the 4 computers cost over 1 lakh rupees, and she is not sure when we will be able to get funds to buy new ones,” she added.
Hastir said a projector had been stolen from the school back in 2019, but no measures were taken to improve security, adding, “After the incident, we lodged the FIR and the accused had been caught in the CCTV cameras, but the police have been unable to find any clue.”
Manju Rani had also flagged the looming fear saying her school was located on the outskirts of the village. A teacher at a government school in Kasabad said, “The department is pushing the teachers to digitalize the process of education yet the basic provisions for security and staff are not being fulfilled.”
Process underway to fill watchmen vacancies: deputy DEO
Addressing the problem, deputy district education officer (Elementary) Charanjeet Singh said, “Schools are already equipped with CCTV cameras and more cameras are being installed at all the schools in the district. The process to fill the vacancies of the watchmen at the schools is underway.”
“We have been conveying to the police to patrol the schools during holidays,” he added.
