Homeland Security Committee of ASSOCHAM has conducted 6th International Conference and Exhibition on Homeland Security on 16 and 17 November 2017, at NDMC Centre, New Delhi.
ASSOCHAM conceptualized and took up the initiatives to organised annual conferences on Homeland Security just after the sad incident of terrorist attack in Mumbai in November 2008.
The two-day event was spread over five selected sessions on the topics of major importance for the Industry, which are as follows –
- Safeguarding ports, metros, railways, and transportation systems with intelligent solutions.
- Disaster management including managing radioactive and biological threats.
- Security of educational institutions.
- Operational challenges in counter insurgency, and their solutions.
- Border area management: Challenges and opportunities.
- Role of technology in smart policing.
- Cyber forensic and data analytics.
The 1st day conference was inaugurated by Hansraj Ganga Ram Ahir, the Minister of State for Home affairs, Government of India; whereas Jitender Singh, Minister of State, Prime Minister Office Personnel, Government of India inaugurated the sessions on 17th. The event was attended by more than 300 participants which comprised all the stakeholders of the industry including manufacturers, OEMs, distributors and dealers, system integrators, and end users.
The two-day forum highlighted various areas of concern and made strong deliberations among the stakeholders to bring about pertinent recommendations which government could consider while forming policies. The concept of accepting Make in India products was given stronger consideration than the current adoption of imported equipment, as the quality and application of our own products would be more result oriented. This can be enabled by making a government forum that can share security application requirements directly with the manufacturers and system integrators; departments such as BPRD and Police Modernization can play a leading role to let it happen.
Solutions to counter insurgency lack features for specific local area environment. Costly equipment fails in the exact hour of need. Prior discussions of related case studies by paramilitary authorities with the industry will help design and manufacture apt solutions with least failure rates.
A working committee for National Police University along with due representation from the industry in drafting the curriculum based on actual requirement of the end user will help bring security courses to understand and meet actual requirements of the public and private organizations better. This will bring more educated and trained security personnel, and will also create employment opportunities in the industry.
The forum was majorly against the foreign direct investment in the security services sector, and for a Government Electronic Marketing Portal which can help in registering the products in the right categories of GeM. The forum also asked the Government to help in effective implantation of the UAV-Drone policy in coordination with the industry.
The conference deliberated for a very clear and strong policy to define security rules to be implemented by educational institute, similar to the fire authority’s regulations. It should be mandatory to adopt them by every institute irrespective it is a normal school, college or university. It was discussed to recommend the government to share the case studies of smart city concepts implemented by the government with the industry highlighting the areas of successful implementation and utility, and also the areas lacking the desired results. This will help in bringing the missing solutions by the industry based on new business opportunity.
A comprehensive security knowledge paper prepared by the knowledge partners Ernst & Young LLP was formally released to help the stakeholders get an insightful and material understanding of the key drivers, sector-specific challenges, digital solutions and way forward for providing the citizens of this nation a safe and secure and harmonious way of life.
ASSOCHAM is the leading chamber of Commerce with members representing various industries and associations. It works closely with its members by conducting sector wise meetings, conferences and summits to facilitate issues pertaining to the growth and stability of country’s economy.
