Chinks in MSU security plan

Effectiveness of the new measures is under question

Devanshi Joshi. Vadodara
Saturday, August 02, 2008

A plan of action to ensure security in the MS University (MSU) was announced on Tuesday. However, it sounded more like a paper tiger. Fraught with loopholes, the effectiveness of the new security measures is under question.Security guards are present at various entrances but their inefficiency can be gauged from the fact that they let many visitors inside the premises without checking their identity. This scribe sneaked in by just saying that she was from Press.MSU has strength of more than 40,000 students, 18 faculties and 16 hostel rooms. The terrorists can make their way into the campus without any difficulty. The varsity has deputed just 78 security guards, who are unarmed. University authorities have decided to increase security on the premises but security outside is still lax. Even though the administration has assured to deploy adequate number of guards and police officers on the premises, the security can't be foolproof in commerce faculty, which is surrounded by walls anybody can easily scale and escape. Besides no proper fencing, there is no security along the walls from the commerce faculty right up to the science faculty.Moreover, the university lacks adequate metal detectors to check the influx of people, coming and going out. The MSU just has five metal detectors. The university has set up a vigilance committee in each faculty. Vice chancellor Ramesh Goyal said, "We have planned to take long-term security steps on the university premises. The deans of each faculty have been given responsibility to take measures for the security of their faculties as it is not possible to make university fully secured overnight."In wake of the security threats, the academic work in MSU has been affected. The varsity was closed on Tuesday. Faculty of commerce will start functioning from August 4 while Faculty of Arts, performing arts and fine arts will start from August 1.