The Telangana State Police Department, which has regularly faced criticism for its improperly maintained CCTV cameras, has formed the Telangana Public Safety Society. Through this society, which is registered under the Societies Act, the department seeks to raise funds for the installation and maintenance of CCTV cameras throughout the state.
While the society’s rules are being finalised, the organisation is trying to allow those who contribute to society earn income tax exemptions. Once the society is fully functional, the CSR funds that are being collected for CCTV cameras will also be diverted through this route and put to use.
Officials said they have been successful in mobilising funds for the installation of CCTVs, but their maintenance has proven to be a mammoth task. When the field personnel checked the cameras during an investigation and discovered they were broken, maintenance became necessary. No one had any idea how the cameras worked up until this moment, and as a result the department has also faced harsh criticism.
The department came up with the concept of a society to get rid of these obstacles. People and businesses contributed in the past as well, but with the help of the society, the funds can be channelized properly, and the funds collected through the society are exclusively used for the installation and upkeep of CCTVs. “Under this society, each unit (commissionerate & district) will also have its own accounts through which they can raise funds.
As soon as a defective camera is discovered, the SHO concerned submits a request to the unit officer, and funds are then released as necessary, according to officials. They also want to maintain the CCTVs operating without interruption and lessen their reliance on outside resources for maintenance. They intend to reach out to a sizable number of people once the income-tax exemption is available in order to pool resources. “While corporations may donate from their CSR funds, individuals may likewise make smaller donations to this cause and receive an I-T exemption,” they said.
