India’s vast land and maritime borders with six countries dictates the use of technology, infrastructure development, setting up of additional border outposts and use of interceptor boats for effectively guarding India’s border, said Mr. Rajiv Mehrishi, Union Home Secretary. At the same time, gainful economic opportunities need to be provided to spur economic growth and promote internal security.
Delivering his Special Address at the valedictory session of the FICCI-India Foundation convention on ‘Homeland Security-2016: Smart Border Management’, Mr. Mehrishi said that there were many security challenges such as new and increasing number of crimes; threat of terrorism & insurgency; increasing law and order situations; and management of disasters. He added that there was a need for new and enhanced legal framework to deal with challenges such as those related to cyber security and to regulate unmanned aerial vehicles. Besides, constant reviews and updates to the legal framework are needed to deal with frequent changes in technology.
Mr. Mehrishi said that the government has taken up initiatives such as Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), Integrated Criminal Justice System (ICJS), National Emergency Response System, NATGRID and cyber security, and is working constantly on them to beef up India’s security systems.
Mr. Ram Madhav Varanasi, National General Secretary, Bharatiya Janta Party, said that India needs to develop a national security doctrine and strategic culture for dealing with the issues related to its homeland security, of which border management is a critical aspect. The country faces a great dilemma, he said, because to promote commerce there is a need for open borders but for ensuring security, a closed border is favoured. Hence, there is a need to find a way to reconcile the two situations.
In her closing address highlighting the issues that must be addressed immediately for smart border management, Ms. Manjari Jaruhar, Chair, FICCI Committee on Private Security Industry and Former Special DG-CISF, Government of India, said that developmental activities on the border need to be stepped up as the people living in the border region are a great source of intelligence and information to the security forces deployed at the border. Hence it is essential to create and develop infrastructure in border areas.
