The private security business in India is getting bigger and bigger, says V. Kumara Swamy :

We have certain set notions when it comes to jobs. For example, we inevitably presume that a job in a private security agency would be that of a poorly paid security guard. Few realise the industry is a lot bigger than that. The sector has a range of opportunities for the educated youth.

Vicky Dhanoa is a case in point. After trying out several low-paid jobs, he decided to go for a six-month diploma course in security management. Today, the 22-year-old works as a “quality executive” in a private security agency, keeping tabs on the quality of services rendered by his company.

“I was under the impression that employment in the private security industry was limited to less educated people or former armed forces men. But once I came to know about the sheer diversity of jobs on offer, I changed my mind,” says Dhanoa. Earning around Rs 12,000 a month, Dhanoa is hopeful that his salary will double in less than two years. At a managerial level, he can earn between Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000.

The private security business in India is already big, with the industry claiming to employ around five million people. This is set to grow by 25-30 per cent a year. Currently, the industry is estimated to be worth around Rs 22,000 crore.

“The demand for security professionals is so high that the industry is having a tough time meeting it. There is no doubt that this industry will rival the IT sector when it comes to job creation,” says Kunwar Vikram Singh, president of the New Delhi-based Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI). Singh says that most of the demand is expected to come from software parks, malls, companies, housing colonies and banks.

The career opportunities in this sector are also diversified. Someone with a six-month diploma or a one-year postgraduate diploma can start as a supervisor or a field officer and go on to become a manager or even chief security officer in a company. From monitoring security arrangements in multi-storeyed buildings, to looking for potential troublemakers in malls, to assessing the security needs of guests in five-star hotels, a security professional’s job is a challenging one.

“Earlier, the industry attracted candidates who had failed to get any other job. But that is no longer the case. A career in this industry is not only a well-paid one but also professionally satisfying,” says Captain Ravee, CEO, Orion School of Security and Intelligence Management (OSSIM), Chandigarh.

In safe hands:

For many years, anyone who wanted to enter the industry had to undergo training which was more like a crash course. However, the scenario has changed with the Indian Parliament enacting the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005, which makes training compulsory for all personnel of a security agency. Most courses now are designed to cover the core competencies identified by the industry.

To enrol in a basic course, you should have completed Plus Two, though there are also postgraduate and MBA level courses for graduates. According to experts, those who have worked with the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in school and college have a better understanding of the rigours of the industry.

With the industry expanding, OSSIM is already planning to set up academies in Calcutta, Mumbai and other places. The Tops Group, one of India’s leading security services companies, is drawing up plans to set up institutes in several cities. Even the Calcutta-based Hawk Intelligence Service is preparing to train around 300 people in its facility.

“In the coming years, we expect at least 1,000 new institutes to meet the demand,” says V.M. Pandit, chief executive officer, Academy of Investigation and Intelligence Management (AIIM), Delhi. AIIM is also planning to launch training academies in Calcutta and Assam.

Since almost all the institutes are associated with the industry body CAPSI, Singh says that most of the courses on offer will be standardised. “We are negotiating with the government to give these courses official sanction. It is likely that the government will set up a new university to certify the courses being offered by organisations recognised by CAPSI,” says Singh.

To gain international recognition, some institutes are also tying up with reputed foreign firms. “Our one-year diploma course is recognised by AKA Training & Consultancy Ltd, UK,” says Ravee.

Some of the well-known training institutes in the country are the National Security Training Academy, Bangalore, SISA Management Training Institute, Surat and Peregrine Security, Gurgaon.

The course fee ranges from Rs 20,000 to Rs 60,000, depending on the duration and standard of the institute. According to experts, even MBAs with specialisation in security will be in demand. “In the US and Europe, the head of security is on the board of directors of a company, with vice-presidents and others functioning under him. Even companies in India are looking for professional managers with training in security,” says Singh. Owing to the lack of professional managers, companies in India prefer former Army officers to head security-related matters. Institutes such as OSSIM and AIIM are also planning a two-year MBA course in security and intelligence management.

“It’s a sunrise sector and in 10 years’ time we will be adding another 10 million people to the industry. If a youngster takes a close look at the industry and the opportunities, he is sure to take the plunge,” asserts Singh.

Source: The Telegraph (Kolkata, India)