IISSM 2007: Yet Another Landmark

What a convergence! Inaugurating the XVIIth Annual International Seminar of the IISSM on December 12, 2007, the Union Home Secretary Mr. Madhukar Gupta foresaw newer challenges for private security industry and wondered “how we (the government) can join hands,” and Mr. E.S.L. Narasimhan, the Governor of Chhattisgarh, in his valedictory address on December 14, 2007, talked about “pivotal role” of private security agencies in joining hands with the government in the matter of tackling terrorist situations arising in the country. The theme of this Year’s Seminar was “Security Industry on the Threshold of Changes”. The discussions in which nearly 200 professionals participated, focused on specific areas of security.

The inaugural session on 12th December set the tone and pace for the rest of the Seminar. Mrs. Sheela Bhide (Chairperson of India Trade Promotion Organization) spoke about the close relationship between security and trade. She referred to the emerging collaboration between IISSM and ITPO in organizing international exhibitions (and related seminars) on Security, Safety, Fire and Disaster Management Equipment and Services. Prof. V. Rajasekharan Pillai (Vice Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Open University) spoke about the need and possibility of linking training for the security profession with the distant education expertise and facilities of IGNOU. Mr. P. C. Haldar (Director, Intelligence Bureau) spoke briefly about the new trends in security threats. Mr. Madhukar Gupta (Home Secretary, Govt. of India) delved on several significant points that should concern security professionals. He inter-alia referred to the continuing threat of terrorist activities and the need for cooperation between government security organizations and private security agencies. He called upon organizations like IISSM to provide significant professional inputs to the regulatory authorities under the PSAR Act and similar laws. Mr. Gupta highlighted the need to develop the capability to absorb and effectively utilize technological developments. He said that a new paradigm was required to deal with security issues and to get maximum value for the money spent. Mr. Narasimhan suggested that the private security agencies could attempt a time / location / methodology model exercise that would help the government to formulate a suitable counter strategy for tackling terrorist violence.

IISSM enlarged the share of panel discussions in this year’s Seminar. There were three major panel discussions during IISSM 2007. The first one related to:PSAR Act – Training of Security Personnel: The Real Challenge. It was obviously dominated by concerns about training and licensing procedures mandated by the Act. The requirements of basic training and follow-up in service training were discussed in detail. On the issue of licensing, the major problems discussed were:

• The requirement to obtain multiple state level licenses, by private security agencies operating in many States. There was a need to consider multi-state or all-India licenses.
• The pre-verification of the antecedents of guards and the related documentation needed reconsideration.
• The absence of any provision for arms license for the private security agencies, and the old Arms Act requirement of only individuals being licensed to hold arms, led to the deployment of unsuitable persons merely because they possessed licensed weapons.
• The continued existence of the provisions of old state – level legislations [like the Maharashtra Private Security Guards (Regulation of Employment and Welfare) Act] even after the passing of the Central PSAR Act.

The second panel discussion was on the problems faced in: Bank Security: Challenges of Outsourcing items like guards, ATM servicing, cash-in-transit etc. Possible and actual threats and lapses were referred to. One of the highlighted points was the tendency to minimize expenditures, resulting often in poor quality of personnel. The risks involved in inadequate protection of cash vaults and vans were also brought out.

The third panel addressed the topical issue of: Infrastructure Growth and the Challenges in Fire Safety, covering the rapid growth of infrastructure including clusters of multi-storied buildings. The need for taking into account the security & safety requirements from the design stage was highlighted.

Individual presentations (with audience interactions) were made by specialists in different fields. A brief listing would include:-

1. Global Training Standards in Security Industry - Prof. Kris Pillay from South Africa.
2. Stress Management for Security Professionals - Dr. H. R. Nagendra from Bangalore.
3. Challenges for Taking Indian Security Business Abroad - Mr. Raj Lakha from U.K.
4. Management of Change: The Prime Task for Security Industry - Prof. Sharu Rangnekar from Mumbai.
5. Challenges for Aviation Security in the Changing Security Scenario - An overview by Mr. Kerran Campbell from Australia.
6. Systems Integration: Loss Prevention Initiative - Col. Kay Kimura from USA.
7. Retail Security: The Next Big Challenge - An overview by Col. T. Saikia, Gurgaon.
8. 21st Century Leadership with Effective Teams - Mr. S. J. Grogan from USA.
9. Challenges Facing Security Managers in Major International Companies - Col. (Rtd.) James L. Fowler from USA.
10. Security Industry on the Threshold of Changes - An overview by Mr. Paramjeet Singh Sahi.

While all the sessions were highly interactive, the presentations by Mr. Raj Lakha, Prof. Rangnekar and Dr. H. R. Nagendra stood out for their emotional appeal to the delegates. The presence of Dr. N.K. Sengupta, former Revenue Secretary, Govt. of India and currently Chairman, Board for Reconstruction of Public Enterprises (BRPSE), moderating the presentation of Prof. Rangnekar, had added lusture to the occasion.

Statistically speaking, there were over ninety (90) delegates from the field of private security agencies, about 40 from the banking and other financial institutions, twenty each from the public sector and private sector industries. The States and Union Territories represented were: Assam, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, UP, Haryana, New Delhi, Kerala, Goa, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Punjab, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. The NCR region had about 40 and the city of the Mumbai had sent 35 delegates. The overseas representatives had come from Belgium, US, UK, South Africa, Australia, Singapore and Kuwait.

The delegates were in their element in the feed-back session. There was a strident demand that the IISSM enlarged its role and take adequate steps towards projecting the true professional image of the security industry. An interesting suggestion was to add one more annual professional award – that for the Best Security Training Institute.

Twelve Annual Awards for professional excellence were announced in a glittering Award Ceremony held along with the Gala Dinner in the evening of December 13. The Awardees were:

Let it be known also that the next Seminar – IISSM-2008 – will be held at the carnival city of Goa. No sooner this was announced at the Gala Dinner, then many started marking their engagement diaries accordingly. The probable dates will be in the first half of November, 2008. So, be on your mark!

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