Jagdish Bali (The writer is based at Kumarsain, Shimla)
Another major achilles heel in checking the copying menace is the open school candidates. This time the Board is holding examination for open school candidates separately in the evening session. In this examination sit either those who could not pass as regular candidate or those employees who want certificates to get promotion in their respective departments. Most of these candidates this way and that way find their relatives among the invigilators and make hay. Some invigilators feeling courtesy bound and some other taking it as a dharm ka kam, get into the act of helping and appeasing them. Those who are known for performing their duty with honesty are either kept away from the duty or they keep away feeling themselves unfit in the fitness table. If at all they happen to be on duty, they are harassed and tortured every way. The copying mongers do not let them live with relief at least for a month or two.
Therefore, the installation of CCTV cameras is a welcome step. The efficacy of this step to curb copying menace depends on the seriousness of the education board. It must follow up the things by scrutinising the recordings of the CCTV cameras or it is going to be eyewash. If not all, most of the examination centres must be put under surveillance of the third eye in years to come. Focus must be on the centres located in areas which flying squads often opt out due to the reasons best known to them. However, it is quite understandable that task is not the sole responsibility of the education board. The teaching fraternity must join hands to make it a grand success.