Reliance Industries, Bombay Stock Exchange, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, IBM, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro and the Oberoi Hotel Group are some of the 98 firms that have approached the government for Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) security cover since last year?s terror attacks in the country’s commercial capital. Following the Mumbai attacks, the government had amended the CISF Act to expand the role of the force from protecting only government institutions to securing private firms as well.
Majority of the requests have come from companies in the field of information technology (IT), energy and hospitality. Incidentally, IT and oil & gas sectors are most vulnerable to terrorist attacks, as per Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai. ?We are high in software expertise and that is why the IT sector is in threat. IT companies are now realising this and are taking their own measures to try and see how best they can provide maximum security. The government is in partnership with these software companies in an effort to provide adequate security,? Pillai had said at a conference on security earlier this month. Among other key targets of terrorists, he said, are ?petroleum and nuclear installations located at the western coast?.
Incidentally, Home minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday announced plans to set up National Counter Terrorism Centre by the end of 2010, to prevent terror attacks on economic establishments in the future.
Some key IT firms that have asked for CISF cover are Infosys Technologies, IBM, Tata Consultancy Services, MindTree Ltd and Wipro, according to the Home Ministry. In the energy sector, Reliance Industries has demanded for CISF protection at its crucial Jamnagar refinery in Gujarat and upstream oil and gas complex at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
From the financial sector, National Stock Exchange, Bombay Stock Exchange, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank have written to the home ministry to provide such safety at their establishments. Hospitality majors including Oberoi Hotel, The Leela, Le Meridien and Radisson Hotel, and public sector enterprises like Hindustan Cables and Hindustan Prefab have also approached the government.
Considering IT sector?s relevance to India?s export revenue, the government has already deployed 169 CISF personnel at installations of Infosys and Electronics City in Bangalore. IT firms bring in a huge chunk of the country’s forex earnings. The sector grew from Rs 28,350 crore at the start of the decade to Rs 2,16,300 crore in 2008-09 and is expected to grow 16% by the end of 2009-10 to earn Rs 2,79,000 crore ? making it a significant economic target from terror groups’ .
In providing the CISF security, the government gives priority to industrial units that are vital to the country?s economic growth and have international reputation. Second on its priority list are firms located in militancy-infested areas. Next come units that require huge investments, both in terms of time and money, like ship building facilities and heritage hotels.