CHENNAI: Is the security guard posted outside the mall you visited capable of handling emergencies? Chances are he is not because he does have hands-on training. For, most of the security agencies do nothing more than giving their men a uniform before sending them to the client’s premises as security guards.
Industry experts recall that during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, many had praised the role of the security guards at the Taj hotel, who in the initial stages quickly evacuated people and later guided the NSG personnel on the star hotel’s premises.
Such quick response during emergency needs a lot of prior training and does not come as simple reflexive action. Yet, as ADGP (TN Commando Force) Sanjay Arora, who is the competent authority for regulating the private security agencies, pointed out, about 40 per cent of the agencies inspected in the State do not have even the basic instruments to impart training. “They don’t even have the basic instruments. In other words, the guards are not given any sort of orientation before being posted in their jobs,” he said, speaking at a recent conference of private security in Chennai.
Besides, many agencies maintain training material just for the sake of producing them during inspections. “The security guards play multiple roles, especially during emergency situations for which training in essential. Moreover, basic training will help in raising self-esteem of the guards. They can be an excellent source for intelligence for the police,” says Kunwar Vikram Singh, chairman, Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI).
The Tamil Nadu Private Security Agencies rules list the basic training mandatory for a security guard. It includes developing skills like responding to an emergency situation and identification of people.
Due to initiatives by the industry associations like CAPSI, advanced training modules have been prepared for training the security guards.
“However, many agencies do not want to provide training as they fear it will enhance the self-esteem of security guards, who will consider themselves ‘skilled’ and demand better wages,” said a senior police officer.