The Hindu : Front Page : Can CISF provide security for the IT sector?

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Sunday, Jul 27, 2008
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Can CISF provide security for the IT sector?

V. Jayanth

CHENNAI: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil’s proposal to amend the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Act to bring the private sector within its ambit has evoked mixed reactions. While a section of the private sector, especially the Information Technology segment, has welcomed the Centre’s initiative, others consider it not viable. It could create more problems than it solves.

Most of the IT majors have a well-organised security mechanism of their own and have not seriously considered approaching the Centre for such assistance. Their demands have been more with the State governments to equip the police stations in and near the IT hubs in the country to deal with any emergency.

Their focus has been special security arrangements, a Rapid Action Force, a bomb disposal squad, and even a striking force that can be deployed within minutes of an alert.

Some of the smaller IT companies and the ITES sector may be happy with CISF security, but they may not figure in the Home Ministry’s priorities. “The security systems within the office or campus have been specially designed and taken care of. But we can do nothing about the environment around us. The threat from outside, and of devices or explosives being set up just outside our premises and being thrown at it may be much more than penetration into the campus,” reasons chief security officer B. Venkataraman, who heads the division for a medium-sized, multi-centre BPO. He says the screening of employees and the credentials of applicants have been done carefully by his company.

A question that has arisen from Mr. Patil’s statement relates to why CISF security should be considered only for the IT sector, and that too for Bangalore in particular. Official sources say that the proposal to amend the CISF Act to include the private sector has been considered only in the context of the IT sector.

“The security threat to Bangalore and Hyderabad in particular stem from their being IT hubs and home to several American and multinational companies. The IT sector has been identified as the central nerve of the Indian economy and its exports now. And Bangalore has been touted as our Silicon Valley,” explains a senior CISF officer.

He says the CISF’s role has been gradually stretched to provide security to critical infrastructure, national assets, and essentially the public sector undertakings across the country. The intention is to protect economic growth and provide a secure work environment wherever it is deployed.

When security at the airports came under threat, the government decided to bring all of them under the CISF umbrella many years ago, though the State governments provide the back-up to the area around the airport. Any further expansion of its role will certainly require more manpower and may dilute its mandate. If it begins with the IT sector, others may also start asking for it, making it non-feasible.

The CISF is an over one-lakh strong force that provides security to about 270 public sector organisations around the country in addition to offering fire protection to nearly 80 industrial establishments.

It has also been deployed to provide security to VIPs. The organisation offers consultancy to the private sector.

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