PXylem

The term ‘security’ is no more confined to the khaki-clad police force or CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) guarding the safety and security of person(s) and his property/assets.

With the humongous growth of business establishments witnessed in the metros and in the towns, now it has acquired a new terminology and significance, becoming the inseparable entity of the frenetic growth in the real estate sector – both commercial and housing segments.

The increasing demand for security and safety of the employees and employers in the so called modern temples of the corporate kingdoms has necessitated the security providing companies Motion Pictures Association of America (MPAA), Motorola and G4S to don an agile, responsive, vigilant service equipped with modern techniques. One could find in India the range of such security firms or companies going from incognito local made to international brands.

There are many intriguing questions which arise in everyone’s mind about these anonymous and global security providers, since the usual looking peon sitting in the office entrance is quite capable of doing their work. What has prompted and driven them to take a bigger pie in the security sector, thus ending up making a parallel growth and business presence similar to the real estate business?

The companies hiring their services have not only helped in meeting the security and safety needs of the employees, systems and infrastructure which are pre-requisite for the smooth functioning of the business, but also their dependence on regular over-stretched state police personnel says Capt. (Hony) Padma Ram Suthar, Security Officer and Administrative Officer, Aptech AG Ltd.

Asking what is the significance and importance of ‘security’ in the corporate world, Suther, who is an ex-army personnel says “security is an all-encompassing concept, whether it is the security of one’s home, company or a nation, its sole objectives remain the same”.

The market of security has been identified and marketed brilliantly by the real estate developers, commercial establishment and retail outlets. They are coming up with installation of access control, smart card, alarm and CCTV systems in their commercial and residential dwellings.

And about the security of industrial and commercial establishment, the director of Creative Security Management (CRM), Col. (retd.) M. S Mathur opines “it is to prevent any untoward loss of life and property with burglar-resistant and surveillance equipment”. He further says that the companies are now becoming more conscious about security than ever before, they are constantly seeking to improve their protection systems.

Even in the retail outlets, currently all the major shopping malls and shopping centers are heavily dependent on a comprehensive security system. With shoplifting becoming a menace - encountered by most of the outlets; retailers are installing CCTV cameras and electronic surveillance systems to detect thefts. Moreover, ordinary citizens are also not far behind in the security hullabaloo, they are concerned about safety of their home and near and dear ones.

In this regards, security agencies provide array of services from manned security to cash processing, cash transportation, cashier services, ATM outsourcing and management, mobile patrol, VIP guards, stationary guards, reception services, alarm response services, and even extending to alarm monitoring, access control, home alarms, CCTV, surveillance, alarm installations and guarding and maintaining fire extinguishers.

All these services, no doubt, come with a price-tag and it varies from company to company and the nature of work they were called for. The Plus Four Security Services charges Rs. 5,950 per month per person for a Security Guard and Rs. 7,950 for a Security Supervisor, including the ESI and EPF. A government mandatory service tax @ 12.24% is charged additionally on the total billing.

The swelling growth in the industry plus the few recent incidents where employees of security services were involved in heinous crime, have not only brought bad name and aroused suspicion, but it has triggered a growing concern about the manner of functioning of these agencies.

“Such incidents are occurring and will be often repeated in near future” says an employee of a leading security company. “Due care and attention must be given to the welfare of the personnel, as they have to work for at least 12 hours or even more continuously in a worst condition” he adds.

And about how to tackle this problem marring the industry, Suthar says maximum number of ex-employees of Army, Air Force, Navy, paramilitary forces and the state police personnel must be drawn into the service. Inclusion of personnel, besides imparting professionalism, Suther says will train the untrained personnel.

In this line to regulate the security services, the Union Government brought out the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005. The Act, though not applicable in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, is a rule book that all private agencies must comply with.

But, how many security agencies strictly comply with the Act? One observes the agencies’ personnel and even their management making a mockery of this law. This must be checked by the government stringently.