In continuation with its Secure Cities initiative, Security Watch India (SWI) organised its 8th edition annual conference and exhibition on “Securing India 2016” at Le Meridien Hotel, New Delhi on 3-4th October, 2016. The theme of the conference was Roadway to a Secure India: Smart Borders, Smart Policing and Smart Security.
The conference & exhibition was inaugurated by Gen JJ Singh, former Chief of Army Staff and Shri Kunwar Vikram Singh, Chairman, CAPSI and Chairman Security Sector Skill Development Council. Some of the VIP guests at the Awards 2016 night were Mr. N Ramachandran, Head, Indian Police Foundation, Mr Shiv Charan Yadav, President APSA-India Chapter among others.
On 3rd October SWI also hosted the Innovation and Excellence Awards for Security and Policing 2016. This award honours the law enforcement organisations and projects/initiatives which were exemplary and innovative in their respective domain of internal security. The award categories and winners for 2016 were:
- Innovative use of ICT for Public Safety & Security- HAWKEYE Mobile App Hyderabad City Police, & Singhast Kumbh Mela Surveliience by Ujjain City Police, MP Ujjain
- Innovative Use of Technology for Women Safety – MAHILA SAMMAN PRAKOSHT, UP POLICE
- Innovative use of Technology in Cyber Security- KERALA POLICE CYBERDOME
- Innovative use of Technology for Traffic management, NAGALAND POLICE for SMS Based Traffic management System
- Innovative use of technology for city surveillance: COMSUR & Mumbai City Surveillance Mumbai Police and L&T
- Excellence in Public Awareness for Safety & Security – JHARKHAND Police UNIFIED 100
- Excellence in Critical Infrastructure Protection- ESSAR OIL- VADINAR OIL TERMINAL
- Excellence in Community Policing Initiatives –NAVODAYA, BALOD, CHATTISGARH.
The second day of the conference on 4th October saw the participation of eminent government and official representatives wherein Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, spokesperson, BJP gave a special address. She stressed upon the State Police units having important role to play in protecting our borders. She further added that “While fighting insurgency in borders, the local civilian population needs to be respected for them to understand the difference between a terrorist and the forces that are there to protect them”. Shri Gopal Pillai, IAS (Retd.) Former Union Home and Commerce Secretary, Government of India, while giving the keynote address threw light upon the importance of Community Policing in Police Reforms. He highlighted the fact that the outreach of community is low and there should be more initiative by the community to bring changes in reforms by the Police.
Lt. General Syed Ata Hasnain in his keynote address emphasised on the use of technology and modernisation of infrastructure for securing our borders. The conference also had participation from various senior police officers from UP, MP, Jharkhand, Nagaland, Telengana to discuss various aspects of smart policing and smart security in India.
The conference also presented the corporate India’s perspective on security. Dr. C. R. Bannur Sr. Divisional Director, Rolta India Limited, Mr. Ashok Bajpai Managing Director, India at G4S, Mr. Ashwin Amarapur Director & CEO, AllGoVision, Mr Salil Taneja from TAAL and Mr Rahul Tyagi from Lucideus highlighted the strengths their technologies bring to the Internal security apparatus in India.
The main agenda of the conference was to discuss the following issues:
- Challenges of Securing India’s Borders
- Multifarious terrain threats in safeguarding our borders.
- Global benchmarks in managing and guarding borders.
- Strengthening border security through integrated systems
- Critical infrastructure protection as a key component of national security.
- Challenges and bottlenecks faced by private security agencies of India.
- Cyber-Security for Critical Infrastructures
- Latest technological developments. Role of Private Sector as a force multiplier
The conference brought together key decision makers and officials from across spectrum of government ministries, armed forces, central and state police forces, security product developer giants like G4S, ROLTA, AllGoVision, TAAL, Applied Systems, COMSUR, India Eye Security and FaceWatch and Lucideus. The major associations in Security sector in India like APSA, ESAI, CAPSI, SSSDC, Cyberpeace Foundation, Indian Police foundation, UIBS and Mitkat also participated in big way to contribute to the timely conference.
ABOUT SECURITY WATCH INDIA
Security Watch India (SWI) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization that addresses issues in the space of the relatively new homeland security sector. SWI works towards a secure tomorrow by enhancing security awareness and consciousness in Indian industry and civil society. SWI also guides and facilitates potential investors interested in the Indian homeland security business.
