GUWAHATI: The students of West Guwahati Commerce College have taken to the streets to protest against the installation of CCTV cameras in the girls' common room. The controversy has ignited discussions about privacy concerns, inadequate administrative response, and a broader sense of dissatisfaction among the student community.
A member of the student union in West Guwahati Commerce College speaking to G Plus, expressed the students' frustrations. "First of all, the main gate now closes at 10:30 AM. This poses a significant challenge for students who travel from distant places like Rangia every day. Delays in transportation can lead to tardiness, but the college authorities have shown no understanding when we raised this issue," said the member.
Recalling a particularly egregious incident, the union member recounted, "On one occasion, a student arrived merely four minutes late and was denied entry to the college premises. No prior notice was issued regarding this stringent policy, leaving students bewildered. The authorities' complete lack of responsiveness to our grievances has only added to our exasperation."
A student seeking anonymity shared their concerns about the privacy invasion caused by the CCTV cameras in the girls' common room. "Shouldn't we be entitled to some amount of privacy in our common room?" the student questioned.
"Whenever we raise this issue, the administration claims that the technical team responsible for the cameras is unreachable. This constant surveillance has left us feeling uncomfortable and unsafe in what should be a private space," said the student.
"And for us girls, we have a lot of personal things in our bags. When we enter the college, our bags are checked," she added.
Amid the turmoil, another student of the college highlighted an entirely separate issue, underscoring the growing discontent among the college community. "We even have instances of a teacher coming to our classes inebriated," the student alleged.
"If this is the state of affairs within the college, it raises concerns about the quality of education and support we can expect to receive", the student questioned.
However, speaking to G Plus, a senior professor at West Guwahati Commerce College said, "While we initially adhered to the 10:30 AM entry time rule, we have recognised the need for flexibility considering students travelling from different districts."
The professor also informed G Plus that discussions are underway with the technical team regarding the CCTV cameras in the girls’ common room.