Corporation to bring Mayor’s chamber under CCTV coverage

KOCHI: The Kochi Corporation is planning to extend CCTV coverage to the Mayor’s chamber, in the wake of the recent incident wherein Mayor Soumini Jain was verbally abused by director Jude Anthany Joseph.

The director had verbally abused the Mayor during a visit to the Corporation office seeking sanction for shooting a film at Subhash Park.

“Currently, the Mayor’s chamber is not under CCTV surveillance. The recent incident has forced us to extend CCTV coverage to the Mayor’s chamber. An earlier proposal to install CCTV cameras in the Mayor’s chamber was dropped,” said sources in the Corporation.  

“At present, CCTV surveillance is restricted to the courtyard of the Corporation building. We will soon hold discussions with service providers to install CCTV cameras in the Mayor’s cabin,” said a Corporation officer.

“Anyone can enter my office any time, and there is no restriction on the public to meet me. This is the first time such an incident is happening in my office. There is no secrecy in the Corporation office and everything is open to the public,” said the Mayor. Meanwhile, the Mayor lashed out at Jude Anthany for his Facebook post against her. 

The Mayor in her Facebook post said it was an irony the director who misbehaved with a woman had come up with the noble intention of making a film on child sexual abuse. “He can  express his social commitment by making the film, but before that he should change his arrogant attitude towards women. Every individual should be subjected to reformation to ensure the overall refinement of society,” reads the post. 

The Mayor said the Facebook post was intended to support women in general, who face abuse at home, in public places and at workplace.

“Dear Jude, I too am worried about the recent atrocities against women and children. Your intention to make a film on the subject is good, but your abusive words against a woman in front of the staff will not send out a good message. You used such abusive words against me, because I am a woman,” reads the post.