The Delhi government's move to install CCTV cameras in Delhi Transport Corporation buses will have "zero effect" on preventing cases of molestation and was a waste of money, Union minister Maneka Gandhi said today.
The minister made the remarks in response to a question on why the Delhi government's request for funds under the Nirbhaya scheme for the project was denied by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
"The CCTV cameras in DTC would not work as these buses are so crowded.
Firstly the camera, is a fixed camera not a rotating one. The kind of molestation that occurs is touching (inappropriately) and the camera would not be able to pick it up so it is a waste of money," Gandhi said.
The minister said that the Nirbhaya fund was the nations' money and it needed to be used effectively.
She said while there was no doubt that women get molested in crowded buses but CCTV cameras would neither assist the victim, nor frighten the offender which was its primary role.
"The ministry already did a pilot project in Rajasthan to see whether it would work and it had shunya (zero) effect," she said.
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