The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Security, a complex issue

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Monday, Apr 06, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Security, a complex issue

Vidya Venkat

Some seem to be dissatisfied with security services

—Photo: S. R. Raghunathan

WATCH: An elderly security man at a residential complex in T.Nagar.

CHENNAI: Mohammed Sabeer Ahmed is a worried man. The summer vacation of his five-year-old son is going to start soon and there is not enough safety in his apartment. “Pet dogs roam about freely in our place and at night, outsiders gain entry without much difficulty, the security guard is usually drunk or asleep,” he says.

A resident of Teynampet, Mr. Ahmed is not the only person in the city for whom safety is increasingly becoming a concern. Senior citizens living alone and working couples living in private apartments leaving their children behind are particularly vulnerable groups.

T. Nagar resident S. Gowrishankar, who works in a private bank, said he once found the gate of his apartment building open early morning. “Later, I found that someone had emptied the fuel tank of my motorcycle. I hardly have the time to keep an eye on who is straying into the apartment at night,” he says.

Many residents are now engaging private security firms.

Santhome resident R. Swaminathan says they pay Rs.2,700 towards building maintenance which also includes payment for the security services.

The advantage of sourcing security personnel from private security firms is that the service is professional, he says. The apartment where he lives has two gates each of which has a security guard. This apart, a security guard is posted at each block entrance to ensure that outsiders do not stray in. “In our apartment, non-residents have to compulsorily register at the visitor book kept in the entry gate. Also, salespersons are not allowed entry,” Mr. Swaminathan said.

However, some residents appear to be dissatisfied with the level of security services. A common complaint is that the guards are aged and not all of them are alert.

Sundari Krishnamoorthy, an Alwarpet resident, says, “Most agencies promise round-the-clock services, but usually there is a shortage of guards and the same man who did the morning shift would return after a break for the night duty. Obviously he would fall asleep only.”

Security firms, who are aware of these criticisms, are now trying to train guards better.

M. Nagaraj of a private security firm said they were imparting self-defence training for men in the age group of 35-45 to be employed as security guards.

Central Association of Private Security Industry (TN) chairperson Capt. Shibu Isaac said currently licensing for private security firms was on and these agencies were also being encouraged to tie up with the local Friends of Police volunteers for this. He added that a good security guard would expect a pay of at least Rs.10,000 and above. “If you pay poorly chances are the services will also be poor,” he says.

In several complexes, the security guards are required to do many other tasks such as operating the motor and pay electricity bills for the residents. This, in turn, has a bearing on the quality time he is able to devote towards his prime duty of providing security. Residents of some apartments also underscored the need for changing the security guards at regular intervals as otherwise some of them tend to become too familiar with the complex and its residents.

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