new
delhi
: Claiming that the country faces an extreme shortage of police
personnel which led to security lapses, the association of private security
agencies has demanded a new safety apparatus which involves private
agencies.
"We want the government to take the private security
industry as a partner for creating a sound working mechanism engineered by its
specialist Intelligence Agencies,'' said Kumar Vikram Singh, chairman of the
Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI).
Mahesh C
Sharma, secretary general of Association of Private Detectives and Investigators
(APDI), said they can use the over 55 lakh security force in developing an "Eyes
and Ears'' scheme, more effective than the one now in Delhi. "We are present in
both installations government and non-government. With little training, these
people can become the base informers for the various intelligence agencies,'' he
said.
Singh said the changing terror scene, specially the "audacious
attacks carried out by terrorists in Mumbai'', recently has stressed the need to
take services of the huge number of people in private security
agencies.
Singh claimed that Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, two of the
worst Naxal-hit states, have the maximum vacancies in their police
forces.
Highlighting the strength of the private security agencies,
he said for every one government security official, the agencies have five
people.
"We are now looking ahead to get the approval for private
security personnel to carry firearms on duty,'' he said.
On the
welfare plans of the private personnel, Singh said there will be a sea change in
the system. Plans to provide facilities like provident fund, gratuity, proper
training and giving them two-room houses are in the offing, he
added.
The CAPSI claims it has nearly 55-lakh people working under it
across the country. "We generate one million jobs each year, basically involving
youths from the rural areas who otherwise remain jobless and and turn into
notorious criminals,'' Singh said.
CAPSI also plans to introduce a
course on security management with the IGNOU.