MSMEs Should Focus On Producing Private Security Equipment: Gadkari

Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Govt of India emphasized that in order to promote Make in India initiative, the private security industry should explore possibilities to start manufacturing security equipment in India and for the export market as well.

Addressing FICCI webinar 'Future of Private Security Industry AtmaNirbhar Bharat: Boosting MSMEs for Quality Security Services & Manufacturing of CCTV & Fire Safety Systems', Mr Gadkari said, "COVID-19 lockdown has made us realize the significance of unarmed security guards." Currently, our economy is facing lots of challenges and the government is keen to support the Private Security industry which has the potential to be one of the largest employers in India, he said.

Responding to the issues raised by the members of FICCI Private security industry, Mr Gadkari invited FICCI to present a representation on issues concerning GST and possible benefits under various MSME schemes. He urged FICCI members to come out with a detailed study, which could be looked into by the Govt.

Assuring the Industry members for all possible support on issues and bottlenecks faced by them, he advised private security industry to work on 'Multi Model Services'. The industry in the future will witness an integration of manpower with technology, and this requires skill development, hence Mr Gadkari urged FICCI to look at opportunities for skilling in manned guarding, Fire safety and electronic security.

Emphasizing on the importance of technology in the electronic equipment used by the private security industry Mr Gadkari said, "The current times requires personnel security guards to multitask and use technology to perform security, safety and facilitation functions, therefore Indian companies must come forward and start manufacturing the electronic equipment in India itself."

He said the country must work together to achieve the target of PM Narendra Modi to make India $5 trillion economy, which may look difficult but not impossible to achieve. He added that with positivity and self-confidence, India will come out of COVID-19 crisis.

Mr Rituraj Sinha, Chair, FICCI Committee on Private Security Industry & Group Managing Director, SIS India Ltd said, "During the COVID lockdown private security sector, as an essential service, has played a vital role in assisting government machinery, Private businesses and even Residential societies. It reinforces the fundamental need for our sector to society and economy and underlines our potential to create stable social security covered jobs, in large numbers for underprivileged sections of our society.

Even in manufacturing, our CCTV & Fire segments have potential to mass produce world class products at most competitive pricing. We are greatly encouraged by the attention by senior policy makers. And hope that sector's issues would be addressed, and policy framework shall be enabled to allow our sector to not just survive but also revive and thrive in near future."