In the lead up to India's Independence Day celebrations this month, security in Indian ports has been a major concern with the recent news that 75 ports in the country have almost 'zero' security.
Ramesh Iyer, CEO and Vice Chairman of TOPSGRUP, is one of India's leading and largest private security companies.
The company is celebrating its 45th anniversary, and is largely credited with in re-energising and modernising the private security industry in India.
He said, "As India approaches another milestone Independence Day, we are once again faced with the important issue of the country's security requirements at this pivotal time, and of how we can best safeguard India against any potential threats and security breaches."
"With India progressing at an ever increasing rate in terms of its economic prowess and development on the world stage, we must remain mindful of the need to ensure we have comprehensive, fully-integrated and fail-safe security measures in place to protect our vast and diverse country," he added.
"With India's smart cities concept also gaining momentum, it is now, more than ever, vital that the country also adds further to its security capabilities to ensure these cities are truly 'smart' in all forms," Iyer said.
"India has markedly developed its security provision over the last few years, and its security sector can continue to capitalise on these great improvements by working closely with state governments and local police forces to develop, deploy and effectively manage a robust and fully integrated security mandate," he added.
"Of late, the Government of India has taken significant steps to upgrade security at major ports, but far more needs to be done to ensure the effective surveillance of India's coastline," Iyer said.
"I think the formulation of a strategic vision encompassing the next 50 years for ensuring maritime security in the coastal areas, will help this situation greatly. India's entire coastline and smaller ports are probably even more vulnerable and will need attention too.
But things look positive with the government's decision to secure major ports by installation of vessel traffic management system, issuance of biometric ID cards to port functionaries, acquisition of speed boats and patrolling boats. The government has also deployed CISF at all the major ports. This is an impressive step and will hugely help secure all our ports.
With the major global powers already having a naval presence in the region and China increasing its footprint in a well-thought out strategic context, India cannot afford to remain a passive bystander anymore. Early pre-emptive steps to include ports in its security grid would be in India's interest and in the interest of the all the people in this country".
Some of Topsgrup's leading clientele includes: TATA, IBM, Pfizer, Infosys, Terminal-2, Mumbai International Airport, KBC, Big Boss Season 8 and the Sunburn Festival.
Most recently, Topsgrup has been at the forefront of initiatives to promote Public-Private Partnerships, having signed an MOU with the Maharashtra Government to conduct background checks on taxi drivers in the area.
