There is a sea change in attitudes to public security after the virtually monthly terror attacks in all parts of India all through 2008.
A screening of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi was on in Delhi about two weeks ago. Just as Shah Rukh Khan went into his second song-and-dance routine, the audience was rousted by high-pitched alarms, whistles and the announcement that a fire had broken out. Fire brigades rushed to the spot and people were evacuated with the help of security personnel, some using hydraulic turn-table ladders.
It turned out that there was no fire. This is was just a security drill by the fire department without informing the cinema hall staff to retain the element of surprise. But given the atmosphere of fear and apprehension in public places, neither the audience nor the cinema hall owners cavilled at the drill. Jokes were cracked in the 15-minute interruption during which viewers were given soft drinks on the house and the screening resumed without complaints.
This incident illustrates the new dimension to “going out” in Indian cities. There is a sea change in attitudes to public security after the virtually monthly terror attacks in all parts of India all through 2008 culminating in the Mumbai attacks. Security has become more intrusive, but people are also more tolerant about being subjected to it. So welcome to the reality of 2009.
Government installations like airports, harbours and ports and railway stations are now under an unprecedented security blanket. At airports, for instance, guarded by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and state police, barricades have been put up at the approach road to all airports for random checking. Articles left unattended even for a few minutes will be reported and checked for Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Surveillance has been deepened on both the land side and airside of the airports. Quick Response Teams (QRTs) at airports have been strengthened. Secondary Security Check (SSC) at ladder point of aircraft is being introduced progressively at all airports and a thorough and complete screening of both hold baggage and hand baggage is to be carried out.
Sloppy security details in public places not guarded by the government have been smartened up. Every public place, even the most down-market of shopping malls, now has some semblance of security in place, and cinema halls, hotels, temples, even mosques and churches have installed various devices that light up like Christmas trees if breached.
The biggest beneficiaries of enhanced security consciousness have been the private sector security agencies.
“Demand for security is high from businesses which have a high public interface such as hotels, retail establishments, hospitals and educational institutions. Businesses today are spending substantial time understanding their security needs. Security has moved from being an administrative subject to a business continuity issue,”said Rituraj Sinha, Chief Operating Officer Security and Intelligence Services (SIS), a private sector security firm that has just acquired Chubb in Australia.
“Today, security requirements are being discussed at the top-most level within corporate houses. This has resulted in greater focus on security matters and often translated into higher budgets, quicker decisions and speedy implementation,” Sinha said.
As a result, the size of the private security business is likely to go up at least five times in the next four years and touch Rs 50,000 crore from the current Rs 22,000 crore. Industry estimates reckon security installations for manufacturing hubs in sectors like petroleum and petrochemicals, power and so on will grow over 125 per cent by 2012.
All corporate lobbying bodies said they will represent to the government that import duties — currently at 35 per cent on most advanced security gadgets — be reduced by 50 per cent.
2008 ended with an apology from government as it admitted its culpability in being unable to discharge a key function — making Indian citizens and foreign guests feel secure. New Home Minister P Chidambaram as well as External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee conceded in Parliament after the Mumbai blasts that the Indian state had slipped up. There is no guarantee that a terrorist incident will not happen again. But it is certain that this time India will be better prepared to meet it.
