The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : `Sharing of risks vital for security'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 07, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

`Sharing of risks vital for security'

By Our Staff Reporter

Abhijit Sen, Member, Planning Commission, interacting with Annamma Philip, principal, Stella Maris College, at a seminar in the city on Thursday. — Photo: S. R. Raghunathan

CHENNAI, JAN. 6. The notion of sharing of risks is the most important characteristic of security from the perspective of either an individual, a large organisation or a country, said Abhijit Sen, Member of the Union Planning Commission.

The insurance industry is a classic example of this. Insurance companies offered cover against various risks and simultaneously, to reduce their burden in case of claims, reinsured the portfolios with other companies in India or abroad, he said. Inaugurating a two-day seminar here today on `comprehensive security issues and challenges — an Indian perspective' being organised by the Department of International Studies of Stella Maris College, Prof. Sen said the concept of risk resulted in people finding out the commonalities and differences.

Security as a concept was far more primitive and deep-rooted than the fundamental perception associated with conflict. "Conflict is a potential outcome, but not the only outcome," he said underscoring the need to have a re-look at the word security, especially in the context of natural calamities. The recent devastation caused by the tsunami evoked the idea of security "in a fundamentally different sense."

On the economic issues linked to security, Prof. Sen expected the country to get more gain than loss from opening up its borders to trade.

The two-day seminar, according to Annamma Philip, Principal, Stella Maris College, sought to define human security in totality.

Kamala Aravind, Head of the Department of International Studies of the college, said though the department was young, it organised national seminars on burning issues. An edited volume of the discussions at the seminar would be brought out, she added.

The Secretary of the college, Rita Marneni, released the `Focus' newsletter and presented the first copy to Prof. Sen.

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