The Story of IISSM-2009

“An amazing Conference! So well organised! What intellectual content! Really enjoyed,” so observed a veteran security professional. According to a first-timer, “I would like to come again and again to attend such a Seminar,” once again proving that IISSM Seminars have always a large quotient of repeaters. Joining the inaugural session in the absence of the Union Home Secretary, who could not make it at the eleventh hour, Mr. Deepti Vilash, Joint Secretary (Internal Security), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, observed, “Terrorists of today having acquired high profile technology status, a paradigm shift was necessary in our attitude to tackle this menace. Security has to be a continuous affair and an ongoing activity and not an item in the budget only.” Lamenting that the Indian system lacked the culture of working with private agencies, Mr. K.V.S.S. Prasada Rao, Chairman, National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), Government of India, in his valedictory address stressed, “All of us would have to now work together and there was no escape from this reality.” So had begun and ended the 4-day long XIXth Annual International Seminar of IISSM (December 8-11, 2009) at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi. Mr. K.P. Medhekar, IPS (Retd.), Chairman Emeritus of IISSM, had inaugurated the event. Mr. R. Swaminathan, IPS (Retd.), Chairman, IISSM, had welcomed the participants, and Mr. R.K. Sinha, Executive Chairman, IISSM, formally introduced IISSM and its activities. Mr. N.R. Das, (IPS), Director General, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Government of India, was the Guest of Honour on the occasion.

A distinctive feature of this year’s Seminar was high level international focus. A two-member delegation from the International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO), Geneva, headed by its Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Evgeny Vasiliev, Dy. Secretary-General, International Civil Defence Organisation, Geneva, and a trade delegation led by Dr. Christian Ehler, Member of European Parliament, who was accompanied by Mr. Christoph Stroschein, Chief Executive, German European Security Association, interacted with the delegates in the post-lunch session of the second and third day of the Seminar respectively. The ICDO delegation expressed the faith and belief that there would be scope for future collaboration with India in the field of civil defence work. Mr. R.K. Bhatia, IPS, Director General, National Disaster Response Force and Civil Defence, Government of India, had presided over this session. Dr. Christian Ehler and Mr. Christoph Stroschein indicated a broad outline for technological collaboration under the aegis of Europe India Chamber of Commerce. Apart from Indian security equipment manufacturers and scientists, a senior representative from the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India had joined the deliberations. Dr. Ehler had also interacted with senior representatives from Tata Consultancy Services Limited, and HCL. Mr. Raj Lakha, Executive President (International Affairs), IISSM, based in UK, was the principal interlocutor on behalf of the IISSM with the Europe India Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Hansa Kaul Dhar, Administrator – Membership, International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM), UK, has also joined and made a brief presentation.

The business session of the Seminar started with bang. It was a panel discussion on: “Role of Private Security Agencies in Counter Terrorism,” in which senior players in the field of private security, such as, Mr. R.K. Sinha, Chairman, Security Skills Council of India (SSC), Mr. C. Pal Singh, representing Asian Professional Security Association – India Chapter, and Mr. G.B. Singh, Chairman, ASIS International New Delhi India Chapter # 207, exchanged thoughts, backed by an examination of the legal aspects of the problem by an eminent lawyer of the Supreme Court of India, namely, Mr. Dipak Bhattacharyya. Mr. Kunwar Vikram Singh, Chairman, Central Association for Private Security Industry, could not make it at the last moment.

Technology and IT Security aspects dominated the proceedings with presentations like “Combating Cyber Terrorism – Role of Enterprises” by Mr. Pradeep Gupta, “Cyber Terrorism – Role of Private Sector” by Mr. B.G. Gupta, “e-Enablement of the Disaster Management in India – Public Private Partnership – the ideal way forward” by Mr. Arindam Bose, “eEnablement of the Internal Security of India – Public Private Partnership – the only way forward” by Mr. Tanmoy Chakrabarty, “Public Private Partnership Program – Metropolitan Video Surveillance” by Mr. Saugaato Ray. The Israeli perspective of the “Role of Private Sector in Counter Terrorism” was put forth by Mr. Leo Gleser, President International Security and Defence System. There was also exposition of the South African and Singaporean experience by learned speakers like Kris Pillay, Mr. Gavriel Schneider and Ms. Morrine Henson. Among other highly interesting presentations were: “Conventional and Unconventional methods of Counter Terrorism: Is the Private Sector Prepared?” by Captain Raghu Raman, “Leveraging business characteristics to facilitate public security” by Dr. Alysia M. Sagi-Dolev, “Innovation by Private Sector in Counter Terrorism – Methods and Materials” by Brig. (Retd.), S. Sreeramulu, “Refreshing ATM Protection for Today’s Threat” by Mr. S.J.S. Duggal. A rescue operation was the presentation by Mr. R.C. Sharma, Chief of Fire Services, New Delhi on the “Role of Fire Services in Counter Terrorism”, and a brilliant case study was presented by Col. R.S. Bhandari on “Corporate Collaborative Initiative in International Finance and Business Centre (G Block) of Bandra Kurla Complex Mumbai”. The old war horse Mr. S.J. Grogan delivered the last presentation on “The Impact of Voluntary Agencies in Countering the effects of Terrorist acts”.

Though identifying one particular speaker would not be correct, going by the feedback reports of the participants, Mr. Tanmoy Chakrabarty from Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., had easily stolen the show. An innovation attempted this year proved highly successful. Senior participants were invited to moderate sessions and they did so with remarkable aplomb. The esteemed moderators were: Mr. Abhijit Bhattacharyya, Capt. Percy Jokhi (Retd.), Maj. General S G Chatterji, VSM, Mr. Uday Singh, Mr. S.J. Grogan, Mr. B.C. Nayak, Mr. T. Mogan, Mr. Rathin Banerjee, Mr. Kumar Shailesh, Mr. B.G. Gupta, Mr. P. Kalastree, Mr. Rajiv Mathur, Mr. Gavriel Schneider, Mr. Kris Pillay, Capt. (Retd.) S.B. Tyagi and Mr. U.K. Katna.

The international faces in the Seminar were from Australia, Bhutan, Israel, Malaysia, UK, USA, South Africa and Singapore. Of the over 200 registered delegates, more than 75 were from private security agencies, about 60 from PSUs and private sector industries, 20 from banking and financial institutions, another 20 each from government agencies and manufacturing agencies and others. Officials, faculties and observer delegates made up for another 50 who graced this year’s event.

IISSM-2009 was a special occasion for new kind of activity. IISSM had the privilege of formally releasing two books published under the aegis of IISSM and written by two learned Indian security professionals, namely, Capt. (Retd.) S.B. Tyagi (Industrial Security – Management and Strategies) and Mr. P. Benjamin (Security Manual). Both the books were released at the inaugural session. The third book titled: “Bank and Industrial Security – A Normative Approach” published under the aegis of a senior official of IISSM, namely, Mr. S.S. Rajput and written by Mr. Subhendu S. Mukherjee, was also released on the occasion of the presentation relating to Bank Security. IISSM would like to keep on record its deep appreciation of the excellent work put in by all of them.

While thanking the learned faculties for joining us and sharing their expertise with the participants, IISSM will also like to sincerely thank the moderators for their role in conducting the scheduled sessions smoothly. We in the IISSM will fail miserably if we do not bow our heads to the participants for their sustained interest in the proceedings. The continued presence of a large number of participants in almost all the sessions and till the end and the quality of floor participation witnessed during this year’s Seminar would indeed gladden the hearts of every organiser. To make the account self-contained, attached is a copy of the schedule followed in IISSM-2009.

Then the “Award Ceremony” during the course of the Gala Dinner in the evening of December 10, 2009. Apart from gastronomical enjoyment, much sought after, one had to see the faces of the Award Winners shining when called to receive their trophies. Let such joy and smile return to many more in years after years.

IISSM-2009 – Awardees’ List

There were no awardees this year in the categories of Security Consultant of the Year, Security Practitioner of the Year, Security Systems Integrator of the Year and Security Guard of the Year.

IISSM Fellowship and other Awards conferred in IISSM-2009 were:

• Mr. Leo Gleser, President, International Security and Defence System, Israel.
• Col. R.S. Bhandari (Retd.), General Manager, Security and Exchange Board of India.
• Mr. D.E. Byramjee, Vice President & Business Heads, Security Solutions Division, Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Mumbai. (represented by Mr. Manu Saigal, Delhi).
• Dr. Alysia M. Sagi-Dolev – President & CEO, Qylur Security Systems, USA.
• Mr. R.C. Sharma, Chief of Fire Services, New Delhi.
• Mr. S.J.S. Duggal, President SIS Cash Services, New Delhi.
• Mr. Pradeep Gupta, Chairman, Cyber Media Group, New Delhi.
• Mr. Gavriel Schneider, Director, Dynamic alternatives (Pty) Ltd., South Africa.
• Ms. Morrine Henson, BSc. CSM, CSP, Director, ALWATCH Security Management Pte Ltd, Singapore.
• Mr. Tanmoy Chakrabarty, Vice President & Head, Tata Consultancy Services, Noida.
• Mr. Saugaato Ray, Director and CEO, Satmac Infosys Ltd., Mumbai.

• Brig. S. Sreeramulu, Executive Director (South Central), SIS India Limited, Hyderabad.
• Capt. Raghu Raman, Chief Executive Officer, NATGRID.
• Mr. Kris Pillay, Director, School of Criminal Justice, South  Africa.
• Mr. B.G. Gupta, Director, SCI Software India Private Limited, New Delhi.
• Mr. Raj Lakha, Chief Executive, Safety Solutions (UK) Limited, UK.
• Mr. Arindam Bose, Advisor and Head – Homeland Security, Tata Consultancy Services, Noida.
• Mr. S.J. Grogan, President, SJG Enterprises, USA

• Mr. G.K. Pillai, Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
• Mr. K.V.S.S. Prasada Rao, Chairman, National Technical Research Organisation, Government of India.
• Mr. N.R. Das, Director General, Central Industrial Security Force, Government of India.
• Dr. Evgeny Vasiliev, Dy. Secretary-General, International Civil Defence Organisation, Geneva.
• Mrs. Svetlana Bandurkina, Department of International Cooperation, EMERCOM, Russia.
• Dr. Christian Ehler, MEP, European Parliament, Brussels.
• Mr. Christoph Stroschein, Chief Executive, German European Security Association.
• International Civil Defence Organisation, Geneva.
• International Institute of Risk and Safety Management, United Kingdom.
• South African Institute of Security, South Africa.
• Security Association of Singapore, Singapore.
• German European Security Association.
• Security Office, Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysia.
• Singapore Police Force

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