Happy New Year - 2008

Hi Folks,

Here's wishing you and your families a very happy and prosperous 2008 !!

6th Security Managers' Conference - 17 Dec 2007

A welcome sign at this year’s conference was that no ‘Gyan’ was dished out by all and sundry as used to be the case in such meetings earlier on. Most of us used to find it very tough to digest the heavy doses of irrelevant tough talk which served no useful purpose (except to raise our hackles !!). Following are some one-liners which will summarize this year's meeting.

1. Sermonising should be avoided.
2. There is no 100% safe security system.
3. Innovate on a daily basis, refine and improve.
4. Bring to the notice of the Bank any ‘chinks’ in the armour.
5. There are no hierarchies as far as security is concerned.
6. Delve into the ‘psyche’ of the terrorists to know their designs.
7. Rehearse for natural calamities – mock drills.
8. Stop ‘taggers-along’, ‘tailgaters’ and ‘piggy-backers’.
9. Security systems are only as good as the people using them.
10. Start ‘owning’ the security gadgets.
11. Security culture should be inculcated.
12. Visitor profiling to be done at random.
13. Keep information resources secure (beware of pen drives !).
14. Security is the face of the organization.
15. Integrity is paramount.
16. Security Managers should ‘manage’.
17. Don’t ask for deferments/cancellations of postings.
18. Let local practices prevail – these are time tested.
19. Durwans should report to the Treasurer.
20. CCTV operations round the clock only upto June 2008.
21. Training of personnel manning various gadgets.
22. Security risk management is challenging, daunting and uphill task.
23. Security cannot be managed merely by prescribing rules and regulations.
24. Expect the unexpected every day.
25. Breath security, drink security and live security.
26. Suspect everything and everyone.
27. Security breaches occur in a state of complacency.
28. Security has to be demonstrably credible and deterrent.
29. No compromise at all in security matters.
30. Need for more alternatives.
31. Effective monitoring through the console room.
32. Look and you will find it (breaches !!).
33. Inspire as leaders – be role models.
34. Simulate hostage situation or a calamity and rehearse drills.
35. Don’t ask for resources – make the best of what you have.
36. Don’t ask for promotions – if you don’t like it – chuck it!
37. The Reserve Bank did not come to you – YOU came to it.
38. Remember the ‘history lessons’ which seniors will freely give you.
39. Report incidents to CSC promptly.
40. Don’t be a ‘James Bond’ and allow weapons into the premises.
41. Don’t raise local issues in such an august meeting.
42. Don’t cry for laptops in this forum – talk to your RD.
43. You WILL serve under multiple bosses - period.
44. You WILL do whatever dirty work is assigned to you.
45. Security Instructions Manual will be issued to all Security Officers.
46. We had our first promotion after 13 years - you are crying after 5 ?
47. Forget about defining the 'job role' or 'job content'.
48. Dont look at CSC to sort out your problems.
49. Copy the ‘Preface’ to the Security Instructions Manual and read it EVERYDAY !!
50. YOU ARE ALL “ARJUNS” ( Hurrah !!)

PS. If some of the above mentioned ‘one-liners’ seem to be contrary to accepted norms or laid down rules and regulations, contradictory, against all tenets of Security Management or even downright crazy – remember - the bosses are always right !!
So don’t you dare question the veracity of these ‘mind boggling’ 50 pearls of wisdom. Just DO IT.

Lungar Gupp XXXIII

1. The Hunt for Greener Pastures is over (at least for this bloke !!)

Capt B. Muralidharan, AGM (P&S), RBI, Mumbai has been offered the job of Chief Security Officer at ADLABS (India's largest entertainment conglomerate) with an annual CTC of Rs 20,00,018/- (yeah, that's right, Rupees Twenty Lakh and Eighteen only). It is a pan India position with HQ at Mumbai. Murali cannot believe his good fortune at this windfall and is still in a state of shock. He was telling me that he will believe it when he gets the first pay cheque !! In a lighter vein I told him that he should not join the outfit unless they increase his CTC by another two bucks - how can they give him just Rs 18/- (plus twenty lakh) ?? He is planning to apply to the Bank for a lien. Here's wishing him good luck and all the best in his new assignment.

2. Fourth Time Unlucky. I am not talking about the recently concluded promotion interviews. This refers to Capt Balvinder Singh's pocket being picked in a local train at Mumbai on 16 Dec 2006. On a serious note, it was sad to learn that his wallet contained Rs 20,000/- (a considerable amount even in these inflationary times !!) alongwith the usual cards etc. Besides the monetary loss the inconvenience caused can only be imagined. While we were commiserating with him, Balli told us that this was the fourth time his pocket had been picked in Mumbai. Balli should follow Devinder's example who, I am told, does not carry a wallet on his person and distributes small amounts of currency in various pockets (how frustrating for a pickpocket !!) whenever he travels by the local train.

3. Entertainment Galore. At the dinner hosted by the ED for all of us on 16th December, Shakeel, as usual, enthralled the audience with his jokes and mimicry and had everyone in splits. Besides the known singers/entertainers in our cadre, some other worthies also tried their hand which was commendable. The most surprising item for me was a Nepali Ghazal rendered by Yashpal Charan, an item originally sung by the great Ghulam Ali. Way to go man!!

Some Important Security Related Resources

Check out the following security related resources which are very informative and will prove useful in enhancing our knowledge :

1. Security sector occupational standards. Go to (or click on !! ) www.skillsforsecurity.org.uk and click on 'National Occupational Standards'. On the right side bar you will get the standards for security related suites. These are good for benchmarking performance against a generic job description.

2. Basic Tips for Armed Hold-up Survival. These tips can be seen at http://www.swintech.com/armed_hold_up_tips.htm

3. Perimeter Security and all about various types of Sensors. http://www.asmag.com/asm/common/article_detail.aspx?c=2&module=3&id=3775

4. Guidelines on Protecting Shopping Malls, Bars & Clubs, Sporting Stadia and other Visitor Attractions against Terrorist Attacks. These guidelines can be downloaded from : http://www.nactso.gov.uk/crowdedplaces.php

5. IT and Physical Security Convergence. Read all about this important topic at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/bom/article.asp?id=499

6. Dirty Bombs. All about dirty bombs and action to be taken in case of exposure can be found at http://www.nationalterroralert.com/dirtybomb/

Note : The above mentioned resources can be downloaded and saved for reference purposes. These have been sourced from the International Academy for Security Management blog (November 2007 posts). Visit the blog at : http://www.internationalacademy.blogspot.com

Lungar Gupp XXXII

1. Promotion Bouncer. The interview for promotion from Grade 'B' to 'C' is being held at Reserve Bank Services Board on 12 December 2007. The timing (as well as the date it was declared !) took virtually everyone by surprise. My friend Jaswal (who was blissfully unaware till late evening on 04 Dec) thought I was joking when I told him about it. As of today there are 6 AGMs in our cadre (Amarnath included). In case the interview for one post is owing to a consequential vacancy (created by the retirement of Capt Kaushik, DGM and if Amarnath is being treated as a DGM on paper) then the interview for 'C' to 'D' should have been held first. And in case it is to cater to the vacancy which will be created on the superannuation of Capt M.S.Ahluwalia (31 Dec 2007 ), then what happened to the 'sacrosanct' panel year funda ?? Very, very strange !!

2. Height of Expectation. I am not talking about 'bananas'. This refers to a 'show cause letter' given to a Security Officer at one of the centres for (hold your breath !!) reaching the railway platform a bit late to receive the local RD. Earlier at one other centre one Security Officer was asked to accompany 'His Higness' wherever he went (this, when he was provided and armed bodyguard by the State Govt) be it on official business or private chores. There seems to be no end to the level of expectations. No wonder our core job always takes a backseat !! And we have detractors in the cadre who feel so insecure that they would willingly do all this and more. In both cases the officers dug their heels (when things crossed the limit) and gave befitting replies. We haven't the last in the former case as yet !! I hope this issue is discussed in the forthcoming Security Managers' Conference so that a solution is found to this ever increasing menace.

CPP Results

The results for the CPP exam which was held at New Delhi on 03 November 2007 have been received by the New Delhi Chapter. Of the 8 candidates that I was mentoring who took the test, four have passed the same. Maj R.M.Bade from RBI happens to be one of them. Heartiest congratulations to him on becoming Board Certified by ASIS International as a 'Certified Protection Professional' (CPP). Maj Sahni, unfortunately, could not make the passing grade and will now be taking the test in May 2008 alongwith two other stalwarts from our Bank (three in case Shailendranath from Nagpur also makes up his mind !!)

ASIS New Delhi Chapter - New Office Bearers

Following have been elected as the office bearers of ASIS New Delhi Chapter 207 for the calendar year 2008 :

1. Mr Satish Showkeen - Chairman
2. Mr Rajiv Shah - Vice Chairman
3. Mr Tarun Kumar - Secretary
4. Mr Abhay Ranjan - Treasurer

Here's wishing the new team all the very best !!

IISSM - XVIIth Annual International Seminar

IISSM is conducting an International Seminar on the theme " Security Industry on the Threshold of Changes" at the Scope Complex, New Delhi from 12 to 14 December 2007. An interesting highlight this year is that Capt S.S.Raman is one of the speakers on the panel discussion on "Banking Security : Challenges of Outsourcing" on 13 December 2007. This is a good opportunity to increase one's professional knowledge as well as network with other professional from the Security Industry. I know Capt Khan from Lucknow is attending the seminar. All the best to others who can convince their RDs to depute them for this programme.

The Good , The Bad and The Ugly !!

It seems that the last 'Lungar Gupp' post has not gone down well with some of the readers of my blog. I have received a lot of comments on that post - some good, some bad and some downright ugly !! I allowed two comments to be published on that post. The reason that I published two 'anonymous' comments was, firstly, one was 'for' and one 'against' the post and secondly, I know who sent those comments. Despite my request not to send anonymous comments, I have received a lot of them as described earlier. I thought my blog was read by my friends and 'like-minded' people as the header of my blog spells out. So for all those who have sent me dirty comments - please dont waste your time - they wont be published and anonymous comments (no matter how bad) have no effect on me. I have NOT asked you to read my blog so do something better. Moreover, you cannot be a friend of mine if you are sending such comments. So, if you have the spunk (ie if you are a man ) put your name against your comment and it will be published alongwith a suitable response. On the other hand if you are a scared pussy, to make comments hiding behind the cloak of anonymity, you can go jump into the lake and drown yourself. To conclude in the words of Dharmendra, reveal your identity and " Kutte mein tera khoon pee jaoonga" and "Agar maa ka doodh piya hai to naam bata !!"

PS: The next time I will ask Blogger to track and reveal the IP addresses of senders of anonymous comments.

"Another One Bites The Dust"

Guys,

I am not talking about the famous eighties song immortalised by Freddie Mercury of the British rock band 'Queen'. I am also not referring to this phrase as in Western novels where the term was used when a gunslinger hit the dirt after being killed in a gunfight (biting the dust !!). In recent times, the phrase has been used to mean 'another one failed or quit', 'another one dropped down or fell to a lower level', or 'one has come to an end'. Ahh, the expressiveness of English !!

It just hit me when I was thinking of how many 'high and mighty' blokes have been sent to a department called DICGC in our Bank. This is the favourite dumping ground for those who have either incurred the wrath of the powers that be or are found to be in cahoots with those who have fallen out of favour. It is amazing how fast the wings of high fliers are clipped in our organization !! In the words of 'Gabbar Singh' (of Sholay fame !) the response to "sardar, maine DAPM/HRDD mein kaam kiya hai" would be "ab DICGC mein jaa !!"

Lungar Gupp XXXI

Promotion Interviews. It is understood that some vacancies in Grade 'B' as well as Grade 'C' are being 'frozen' till they are filled up by 'ST' candidates or till the stipulated time limit (as per Govt guidelines) is over. This is bad news to many aspiring candidates who will have to rework the arithmetic (a crucial exercise in the present scenario).

Non Renewal of Contractual Appointment. The Security Adviser's third consecutive term came to an end on 15 Nov 2007 and was not renewed this time. Speculation is rife as to who will be the next Security Adviser ? This is also REAL BAD news to many of our friends who had gone out of their way ingratiating themselves, bending rules and regulations, prostrating themselves and generally doing 'Chamchagiri' in the fond hope of choice postings and/or future promotions. Instances of the Security Adviser being put up in accomodation beyond his entitlement, securing Govt transport, not being frisked at airports, being escorted from the tarmac and sometimes from the aircraft itself, being treated like a VVIP at places of worship, arranging discounts while shopping etc have been heard by all of us from time to time. An oft-repeated refrain from the Security Adviser himself used to be "if so and so can do it - why cant you ?" What a great leveller our organization is ?? Good Bye Mr Security Adviser !!! As for the guys who had spoilt him silly - "Ab tera kya hoga Kaliya ??"

Rationalisation of Duties. A letter was received from the Central Security Cell a couple of days back asking the Regional Offices as to what all duties are being performed by the Security Officers. I do not know the real purpose of this exercise but if the aim is what the subject line reads, then I think it is high time we tell the Bank to delink Maintenance and Protocol from from Security Management. What do you say guys ?? Let me have your comments before I give my rationale in support of my opinion.

Change of Location - CSC. I heard that the Central Security Cell is being shifted from the Central Office building to 'Garment House'. I do not know if this is authentic news or just rumours (I haven't bothered to check up !!) but if it is true then I find it a really incongruous move. This is simply incomprehensible unless it is the result of some 'personal vendetta' or a 'self-inflicted injury' ??

Tips for Interviews

Capt Muralidharan recently forwarded a mail to me which contained some useful tips for interviews. I am reproducing the same over here for the benefit of those people who will be facing promotion interviews shortly!! (author unknown)

1. Attitude is everything. If you're smiling, excited and optimistic, you've already won half the battle. If you're cold, distant and uninterested, you've already lost 99% of the battle.

2. Be yourself. If you act like someone else and they like you, they don't actually like YOU. They like the person you're pretending to be. If you end up getting a job there, you won't be able to keep up the facade for very long anyway. Honesty and authenticity are very appealing characteristics. If both parties stay true to themselves, they'll know if they're right for each other. And in the end, that's usually what matters most.

3. Relax. Interviews are not really interviews at all. They're conversations. Treat them like conversations, and the tension will slowly dissolve. Remember: when you walk into that office, you don't have the job to begin with. In theory, you have nothing to lose. You either come out way ahead or back where you started. If you approach the situation with a "win-draw" mentality, most of the pressure will fall by the wayside.

4. Appearance counts. Before you meet people, virtually the only judgment you can make is based on aesthetics. What you're wearing matters. What they're wearing matters. How you sit, stand, shake hands, hold your pen and walk up the stairs counts. Not enormously, but enough. First impressions are huge. Also, how does the building look? Is the lobby clean and organized? Are the cubicles bunched together? Is the ceiling high or low? Does it look like a fun place to work? Does it invite you to come back?

5. Fit is crucial. All the smarts, skills and experience in the world mean nothing without the right fit. If your values aren't aligned with those of the company, you're doomed. If you like to have fun and they're always serious, don't even bother. Seriously. The more you fit in, the more you'll want to come back every day and bust your butt. If you're always at odds with your coworkers, you're going to hate your job. Simple as that.

6. Liking means more than talent. The days of standing in line and putting decals on widgets is over. People don't hire you because you're capable. They hire you because they want to work with you. If you don't get along, and get along well, the interview will probably be fruitless. Unless, of course, you applied for the "Assistant Placer of Decals on Widgets" position....

7. Be persistent. It's incredibly easy to get lazy, give up and feel sorry for yourself. People will turn you down, never call you back, and forget your name over and over again. None of that matters. What matters is perseverance. If you can't handle losing a few battles along the way, you're in for a tough road ahead. Getting a job is like winning a war. It takes patience, planning, time, effort, dedication and a little bit of luck. The chips will fall your way sooner or later. If you stay persistent, you'll at least give yourself a chance to catch them.

8.Bring an insane amount of (intelligent) questions. Nothing feels worse that not being prepared. If you don't bring loads of questions, you're not prepared. At some point, the interviewer will ask you what you want to know. For the record, you want to know everything. Be curious. Be interested. Be engrossed. Ask your question, and then get ready to listen. Don't think of what you're going to say next. Just soak up every word like a giant sponge. The more questions you ask, the more you'll get out of the experience. And as a bonus, they'll know you care deeply about their business. When you care about what they care about, you both start to align, and that's when the magic happens.

9. Focus on their needs, not yours. It's tempting to sell ourselves, to talk about how great we are, and to show off our past experiences. But guess what. No one cares. What they really care about is how your "amazingness" will translate into success for their company. Don't focus on your talents, focus on what your talents will do for them.

Lungar Gupp XXX

1. Greener Pastures. Capt S.S.Raman has resigned from the Bank's service on 07 November 2007. He is joining 'Satyam Computers' at Hyderabad. His new employers have asked him to join asap. He has also been asked to keep his passport handy as he is expected to do a lot of globetrotting. Here's wishing him all the best in his new venture. Hats off to him for having the guts to chuck the present job despite the assured promotion which is just a couple of months away, foregoing gratuity, the new wage settlement etc, etc !!

2. Interview Time. Aspiring candidates for the Grade 'B' to 'C' interviews have been asked to forward their particulars to DAPM, Central Office latest by 16 Nov 2007. This is a regular prelude to the interviews. There are 5 repeaters and a possible 3 fresh candidates in case the interviews are held for two posts of AGM in our cadre. People have already started sweating !! (Goyal is presently doing that at Delhi). The fresh ones are eager to know what type of questions are asked in the interviews etc. Yours truly being a veteran of three interviews is presently dishing out free advice in this context. I believe some of the repeaters have been up to 'out-of-this-world' freakout grand-standing in their bid to outshine one another. Good luck to them !!

Wishing you all a HAPPY DIWALI

आपको दीपावली २००७ की अनेकों शुभ बधाई।
यह मंगल उत्सव आपके सम्पूर्ण परिवार को
सुख, समृद्धि एवं शांति प्रदान करे.
ईश्वर इस दीपावली पर आप की सभी
मनोकामनायें सम्पूर्ण करें।

CPP and PSP Exam at New Delhi

ASIS New Delhi Chapter # 207 hosted the CPP and PSP examinations on 03 November 2007 at the USI Club. The PSP exam was held for the first time in India and had only one candidate (not many people knew that this exam was also available in India) but there were 20 security professionals who took the test for CPP. The PSP exam was held thanks to the untiring efforts of the New Delhi Chapter in this regard. For more information on this certification please click on the following link which Mr David Cresswell, CPP has kindly forwarded to me :

http://internationalacademy.blogspot.com/2007/10/asis-security-management-certification.html

In addition to relevant information, one can download the US Army Field Manual 'FM - 3.19.30' Physical Security (317 pages), which is an excellent resource for PSP as well as the CPP tests.

On 02 November 2007, I conducted a review programme for the aspiring candidates from 2.00 to 6.30 PM (a real marathon session) as part of volunteer service for the chapter. The same was attended by 14 guys who took the test the following day and all felt that it was very useful (not blowing my own trumpet, honest !!). I am hopeful that the all the eight candidates who were being mentored by me will pass the test. Bhuvnesh Sahni and R.M.Bade from RBI took the test this time as S.S.Raman and Moin Zafar dropped out at the last moment owing to personal problems. Well here's wishing them all the best !!!

With awareness about ASIS certifications increasing, I am sure that the numbers will only grow. This augurs well for the industry as employers today are insisting on certified professionals in any field.

Lungar Gupp XXIX

Hi Folks,

I am still at Dehradun (on sick leave !!) but that does not stop me from posting some 'gupp' on this page.

1. I am sure by now the news of two newly promoted EDs must have sunk in. Well, I hear Mr Gandhi (RD, RBI,Hyderabad) is moving to Delhi as Mr Khan has just been promoted. People at Delhi would be happy as Mr Gandhi is a thorough gentleman and a professional to the core (can't say the same for guys at Hyderabad)

2. Heard that our friend Capt Amarnath is getting another extension at Hyderabad !!! (Still as an AGM !!)

3. Only two officers viz : Bhuvnesh Sahni from Chennai and R.M.Bade from Mumbai are taking the test for CPP on 03 Nov (Saturday). Raman and Zafar dropped out at the last moment and will be taking the test in May 2008. This time a record 20 security professionals are taking the test at New Delhi. I am conducting a half day review programme for all the aspirants on 2nd Nov as volunteer service for the ASIS New Delhi Chapter.

4. The PSP Examination is also being conducted on the 3rd Nov for the first time in India thanks to the efforts of the ASIS New Delhi Chapter. This time there is only one candidate taking the test.

That's it for now.

Interesting Mail Forwards

Guys,
Here are a couple of interesting mail forwards which I thought I must share with you all (authors unknown)

BE THANKFUL

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something, for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary, because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings

Now for the second one (NUTS !!)

A doctor at an insane asylum decided to take his patients to a baseball game.

For weeks in advance, he coached his patients to respond to his commands.

When the day of the game arrived, everything seemed to be going well.

As the National Anthem started, the doctor yelled, "Up Nuts" and the patients complied by standing up.

After the anthem, he yelled, "Down Nuts" and they all sat back down in their seats.

After a home run was hit, the doctor yelled, "Cheer Nuts" they all broke out into applause and cheered.

When the umpire made a particularly bad call against the star of the home team, the doctor yelled, "Boo Nuts" and they all started booing and cat calling.

Thinking that things were going on very well, the doctor decided to go get a beer and a hot dog, leaving his assistant in charge.

When he returned, there was a riot in progress.

Finding his assistant, the doctor asked, "What in the world happened"?

The assistant replied, "Well, everything was going on just fine until a vendor passed by and yelled PEANUTS !!"

An ode to 'Safari Suit'

My friend Toms has penned an ode to the 'Safari' which I am reproducing here. This is in sharp contrast to my vitriolic comments about the same attire. Well, this is the brighter version of the story. Toms has become a regular poet - what say guys !!

Ode to Safari Suit
(Maj.P.E.Thomas Panicker)

The day has come at last
A trusted associate of long past
Has been forced to retirement
After decades of dedicated employment

Served as a reliable adornment
Was Security Officers' companion well meant
Alas! Of late shunned and scorned
The end came sooner than imagined

Matchless you were, dear Safari
You gave us importance and dignity
Times have now changed and you're old
But your memories we'll cherish as gold

Adieu Safari, adieu and thanks
Good wishes from all our ranks
Your service we'll always treasure
May you embellish the best, we desire

Lungar Gupp XXVIII

Hello Guys !!

1. Good Bye Safari Suits. On 3rd Oct I was told that the circular regarding our new uniform has been released (dated 28 Sep 2007, but I doubt if it has been received by all offices till date). This was the best news of the season so far. We are now entitled two sets of winter and four sets of summer suits (3 sets for AMs). Different rates have been prescribed for heavy/light winter centres and are reasonable. DGMs and above will be receiving enhanced rates for the cloth. Rates of shoes, socks and ties have also been hiked. The revised limits are applicable whenever the next supply is due. Now isn't that GOOD NEWS ???

2. May the Tribe Increase. The Security Adviser was here some time back to carry out a review of the Security arrangements. He told us that there is a shortage of 26 officers in Grade 'A' in our cadre and the Bank is shortly going in for new recruitments to fill up the shortfall.

3. CPP Exam. The next CPP exam is scheduled for 03 Nov 2007 at New Delhi. Four security officers from RBI are taking the test this time viz : S.S.Raman, Moin Zafar, R.M.Bade and Bhuvnesh Sahni. Here's wishing them all the best. I am hoping to see them all at New Delhi (in private capacity) at the venue of the test. I am sure there will be a record turnout for the exam this time. I am mentoring 12 officers for the said exam and I know of others who will be taking the test. At this rate the day is not far when RBI will have its own 'ASIS Chapter'. My friend M.W.Khan ditched at the last moment which was a big letdown. He will now try his luck in May 2008.

4. Farewell Bitchings. A lot of loose talk was generated in the aftermath of a farewell party at Mumbai recently. Most of it centred around attendance as some of our colleagues did not want to attend/did not attend at all. I feel we should be magnanimous enough to bury our differences when somebody is bidding adeiu to the organization. By not attending the party all sorts of wrong signals are sent to all and sundry leading to more conjecture. Not done guys !!

Management Lessons From "Chak De India"

This has reference to my earlier post titled "Bonding RBI Style". The management lessons learnt from the movie (my version) submitted to the Bank are as follows :

Introduction

‘Chak De India’ is a movie loosely based on the real life story of former hockey goalkeeper and coach Mir Ranjan Negi who had to face allegations of match fixing after India’s humiliating 1 – 7 defeat to Pakistan in the 1982 Asian Games hockey final. Sixteen years later Negi’s honour was restored when he guided India to the Asian Games gold in 1998 at Bangkok. Later he won accolades for guiding the national women’s hockey team to win the 2002 Commonwealth Games gold at Manchester. Some important management lessons can be learnt from this film which are described in the succeeding paragraphs.

Team Spirit

Team spirit is essential for the achievement of organizational goals in the present day fiercely competitive world where geographical boundaries have no meaning. Even negative instances can be utilized as building blocks for fostering team spirit as shown in the film when the girls beat up the boys who were indulging in eve teasing. The ‘will’ to excel is more important than strength for any team to be successful in their endeavours.

Goal Setting

The organizational goal is more important than personal goals. As depicted in the film the national interest comes first, the team next and the individual last. This has to be the credo each and every time. The importance of goal setting cannot be overemphasized. If the cause is big enough, support is bound to follow.

People Management

The following important lessons in people management can be learnt from the film :

(a) Conflicts can be resolved by understanding their cause.
(b) Act quickly when personal problems turn into performance problems.
(c) Make sure people know you and your expectations when you are new to an organization.
(d) Maintain personal ethics.
(e) Identifying and mentoring future leaders.
(f) Do not ignore morale problems. Try to turn them around.

Change Management

Change is inevitable but hard to achieve. Every organization needs to change with time but there is always resistance to change. Peoples reaction to change is unpredictable and often irrational. As a manager one needs to create a compelling vision in order to encourage people to change. The vision should be inspiring and dynamic. The essentials of change management are building a team, picking people with relevant skills, strong sense of motivation and purpose and good communication.

Leadership

This is an important facet of management. It is one of the many assets a successful manager must possess. The leader does not have to be a ‘nice guy’ to ensure that his team delivers the goods. If the leader is committed to the cause he can even make underdogs rise to the occasion. The leader has to be disciplined and strict with his team besides being compassionate when the occasion demands.

Strategy

Recognise individual strengths and weaknesses and assign tasks accordingly for the fulfillment of organizational goals. Formulate a plan for achieving the goal and then exhort the team to deliver the goods.

Overcoming Prejudices and Biases

Religious, regional and gender biases have to be overcome and set aside if we are to succeed as team, organization or country. These prejudices are deep rooted in our society and they have to be shunned for the success of common goals. Constant awareness and education is required to eradicate this social evil.

Overcoming Personal odds

One’s biggest failure may turn out to be the ladder to success if personal odds are overcome and energy channelised in the correct direction rather than wallowing in self pity and low self esteem.

Conclusion

The film is offbeat and is realistically made. Every viewer will relate to it despite the absence of song and dance sequences, villains, fights and car chases. Everybody will find some meaning in this film which has humour, nationalism, defeat and victory finely woven into the fast paced narrative. In the end the following lines from ‘Jamaican Fragment’ by A.L.Hendricks come to mind :

“ You may have come across incidents where a person is not judged objectively, but by virtue of his or her gender, colour, caste, race or even his or her food habits. Does it not amount to prejudicial or stereotyped thinking ?”

Greener Pastures !!

Guys,

I got the following mail in my inbox as I am registered with 'Monster'. The same was forwarded to me by a friend too. ICICI Prudential are offering a CTC of Rs 8 - 12 lacs to ex-service officers after due training (at their cost). The project has also been endorsed by the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) presently headed by Maj Gen Harwant Krishan, a Gorkha officer, whose younger brother Jaiwant was in my paltan. Worth a peek ... so here it is :

Dear Capt Nandan,

Greetings from TMI first!!!! ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited is now offering Middle Management Positions across India in multiple functions for Officers from the Indian Armed Forces (under the age of 50 years). For more details, please refer to http://www.tmifirst.com/armedforces/index.htm. Interested officers may register their candidature for the same. Short listed officers would be invited to an Orientation Programme. Warm regards,

Swaminath Adabala

Senior Manager

TMI first

All the best !!!

Lungar Gupp XXVII

1. The other day one of the general side officers who is known to me accosted me and enquired in a 'hush-hush' tone whether I had heard about a Security Officer leaving his car behind at the old duty station and claiming conveyance allowance at the new duty station ? I told him that he was more than two years out-of-date !! This is just an example of how we are constantly under the scanner in the Bank. It is unthinkable (even for bankers !!) that an ex-service officer could be involved in such a misdemeanour. Though the matter is 'stale news' for us now - it is still going around. Such stories doing the rounds cause immense erosion to our image and credibility. So guys let us resolve not to get carried away and to 'do the right thing- always and everytime'.

2. It seems that all the 'lobbying and backstage parleying' for occupying the DGM's chair that was recently vacated at Mumbai has come to 'naught' !! My friend Toms is ably running the show at Mumbai office at present.

3. It is understood that DAPM has written to RBSB to conduct promotion interviews for two posts of AGM and nine posts in Grade 'B' in our cadre. This has happened in the 'normal' course and consequential vacancies have been taken into account. The matter regarding upgradation of five posts in Grade 'C' is still pending. It will be a lucky stroke for aspirants in Grade 'A' if the interviews are held before the upgradation takes place. Watch out this space for further developments in this respect. In the meantime - start brushing up your 'knowledge' guys !!

4. The case regarding scrapping of 'Safari Suits' for us is engaging the attention of the top management and we may hear the 'good news' any day now. I just cant wait to trash my seven sets of 'bullshit' attire.

Wall of Fame at RBI, Bangalore !!

Hi Folks,

A 'Wall of Fame' has been established in our office to showcase singular achievements of the employees and their families. An illustrious team of youngsters from our office were the first to be featured on this 'wall' (it is a notice board at present but a suitably impressive 'wall' is on the way courtesy our Estate Dept) for their efforts to bring about financial literacy at grassroots level in the state by scripting and designing stories in 'comic book' style.

Well, at present, yours truly is adorning this 'wall of fame' !! The achievement being Board Certified in Security Management (CPP). Check out the following write up and photograph (double click to enlarge) :

The wall of fame has certainly made me 'famous' in the office. At least folks got an excuse to talk me despite my stern visage which is generally a put-off to many who meet me for the first time. I am on the lookout for a suitable opportunity to thank the management for this excellent idea.

UP Sainik School, Lucknow - Attention Old Boys !!

This Post is for Fellow Upsainians,

It was indeed a lucky moment for me to find pictures of my school while surfing the net a few years back. I copied them on to my blog later and never thought that this act would help getting in touch with long lost friends and fellow 'Upsainians'. I have very fond memories of the school which I joined in 1968 and left in 1972. My school number was 431 and my house was Tandon House. I plan to recount the tales related to UPSS when I have some more time on my hands in the future.

So any 'old boy' who searched for UP Sainik School on the internet also got my blog address thanks to the pictures and the text posted therein. The biggest surprise was me getting in touch with Rohit Varma (my house type, senior to me in school, but a dear friend) after nearly 27 years. He rang up from New Jersey (US) where he has spent most of his time and we plan to meet when he comes to India next. There is a lot of catching up to do !!

Another one was Suresh Chandra Pandey, (474/Kidwai), who posted a comment on my post 'Fire Training at Nagpur - More Photos' dated 26 March 2007 which I responded. Yet another Upsainian, Ashwini Kumar Tripathi, (938/Shastri), who is also based at Bangalore got in touch with me thanks to the blog. And it was through him that I now have the contact numbers of 9 other 'old boys' in Bangalore. The world is surely a small place !!

So any Upsainian out there (floundering in cyberspace) please get in touch by sending me a mail at nandanbisht@gmail.com

Bonding - RBI style

On 16th August (forenoon) I was told that all BLMC members would be going to see the 7.00 PM show of "Chak De India" at PVR, Forum Mall, Koramangala. The same afternoon a circular was received which confirmed this fact and also required all those viewing the show to put up a note on 'Management Lessons' learnt from the movie subsequently.

Such events are common in the corporate sector but it was a 'first' that I have witnessed during my entire service with the Bank. Its nice to see the winds of change in our conservative organization (even if it happens owing to a friendly push from the top !!) . I hope all you guys are not turning 'green' with envy at we being the first to be put through such an entertaining exercise. Well, I missed the beginning of the movie thanks to the lousy traffic in this city but it was a good experience. I must have watched a movie in a hall after 7-8 years.

The movie is a vibrant tale based on the real life story of M.R.Negi who was the goalkeeper of the Indian team that lost 7-1 to Pakistan in the finals of the 1982 Asiad. The story is all about him trying to redeem his honour and trying to fight the demons in his head. In the movie Shah Rukh Khan dreams to transform a motley group of girls from all over the country who dont see eye to eye with each other, into world beaters. The movie is all about how he does it.

The movie reminds us of our religious, regional, racial and gender biases in a stark manner. These are deeply rooted in our culture and their origins can be traced back to more than 2000 years when caste system was started in the later vedic ages. These prejudices are not going to be removed in a day but it is heartening to note that efforts are being constantly made to eradicate them.

Hearing the crowd clap at various times during the movie also reminds us of 'nationalism' even if it is just for three hours in the dark confines of the hall. Outside the hall the regional divide is very much present in our day to day lives.

It does have a lot of management lessons which I am not going to enumerate over here. The movie is offbeat and a treat to watch. So do yourselves a favour and 'Chak De'.

PS :The only flipside in the whole episode was that we could not watch it with the family. Got a lot of brickbats at home for that !! A sad epilogue to an otherwise enjoyable evening.

Lungar Gupp XXVI

1. The race for filling up the DGMs post at Mumbai is in full swing. Some time back one of the contenders from Chennai was the favourite but if murmurings are to be believed then it is still up for grabs.

2. CPP Exam. Sahni (Chennai), R.M.Bade (Mumbai), Moin Zafar (Jaipur) and M.W.Khan (Lucknow) are all set to take the test in November this year. Here is wishing them all the best. Maj Sahni is most keen to pass the test as he has just got his 'green card' for permanent residence in the US and attaining the certification will land him a $80,000/- plus job for sure. In fact, he is coming to Bangalore for a tete-a-tete with me regarding this.

3. Independence Day. Best wishes to all for the 60th Independence day celebrations tomorrow. We at RBI, Bangalore start the celebrations at 0600 hrs ( no kidding !! ) with flag hoisting at one of the residential colonies followed by another at 0630 hrs and 0700 hrs in the Bank's premises.

CPP Study Kit

Guys,

I am sure this will bring cheer to a lot of CPP aspirants from the Bank. At long last the Central Office is purchasing one set of CPP Study Kit. I got a call from the Central Security Cell last week asking my opinion whether to buy the 'Protection of Assets Manual' hard copy (set of four folders) or to go in for an online version which will be regularly updated. I told them to buy BOTH which our friend Mr Venugopal (AGM at CSC) assured me that he would advise DEAP to do so. Since this manual is the most important (besides being the costliest too) of all the prescribed books it makes sense to go in for both. This should encourage security officers to start preparations to attain the CPP certification. Another set is being purchased by CAB, Pune.

Breaking News !!

It is understood that five additional posts of AGMs in our cadre have been approved. The vacancies in Grade 'B' work out to three as on date after curtailment. It is expected that the regularisation process will be over soon and we may see a new DGM, five new AGMs and three new Managers. For all you know this may happen in 2007 itself. So all you contenders out there - dust your skids, brush up your knowledge and take out that bottle of 'old wine' - rejoice !!

The Old,Old Wine

" Once there lived a rich man who was justly proud of his cellar and the wine therein. And there was one jug of ancient vintage kept for some occasion known only to himself. The Governor of the state visited him, and he bethought and said, "That jug shall not be opened for a mere governor". And a bishop of the diocese visited him, but he said to himself, "Nay,I will not open that jug. He would not know its value, nor would its aroma reach his nostrils."

The prince of the realm came and supped with him. But he thought, "It is too royal a wine for a mere princeling." And even on the day when his own nephew was married, he said to himself, "No, not to these guests shall that jug be brought forth."

And the years passed by, and he died, an old man, and he was buried like unto every seed and acorn. And upon the day he was buried the ancient jug was brought out together with other jugs of wine, and it was shared by the peasants of the neighbourhood.

And none knew its great age. To them, all that is poured into a cup is only wine."

KAHLIL GIBRAN

The above passage is from "Selected Works of Kahlil Gibran". I used to be an avid reader of Gibran once upon a time. He was a mystic and artist of Lebanese origin who came to prominence in the early twentieth century. His writings were in Arabic but it seems nothing has been 'lost in translation' and they are timeless in their essence and relevance. How many of us keep that 'jug of ancient wine' which we will not let anyone partake ? Things kept for someone special or some occasion ? Gifts which were never given away ? Items which we have never used and will not let others use too ? Contemplate on this guys !! And take out that special jug before the peasants have it.

Greener Pastures

Andhra Bank has invited applications for Senior Manager Security in MMG Scale III grade. There are a total of 11 posts and the starting pay offered is Rs 18,400/- basic (gross approx Rs 26,000/-). Preference will be given to Security Officers working in Banks/PSUs. This is the first time I am seeing posts in Scale III in Commercial Banks for Security Officers. It is understood that the Chief Security Officer of Andhra Bank was instrumental in convincing the Bank's management to offer this grade to Security Officers as most used to leave in frustration. For those of our colleagues who are nearing 5 years of service and are hunting for greener pastures - this is not a bad deal if one gets his station of choice. The last date for receipt of applications is 06 August 2007. Details are available on the Bank's website.

Lungar Gupp XXV

Promotion. At long last Capt B.Muralidharan has got the long awaited letter informing him of his promotion to AGM (P&S). The best part is that it is effective 11 Jan 2007. Congrats Murali ! When and where are the celebrations ?

Postings. Connected to the promotion above was Capt Amarnath's posting to Kolkata. It is understood that his marching orders were issued by DAPM last week but Amar has represented to be retained at Hyderabad. Another posting in the offing is that of one of the youngsters (Ghosh) from Kanpur to Kolkata.

Career Progression. The case regarding additional AGMs in our cadre has still not been cleared by the top management. It is believed that some queries have been raised so it may take some more time.

CAIIB Exam. Results for the said examination were declared recently and it is really heartening to note Vidyasagar (Bangalore), Dolly Kushwaha (Jaipur) and R.M.Bade (Mumbai) have passed the CAIIB exam. Congratulations to all of them. I dont know if there are some more whom I have missed. It is always better to know more about the industry you are working in besides getting additional increments, knowledge enhancement, ego satisfaction, etc, etc .

CPP. Capt M.W.Khan has finally made up his mind to appear for the said exam in November 2007. He has sent his request to HRDD to allow him to take the test under the Bank's incentive scheme. Well done Khan !! Trust an old horse to try out new tricks - shame on you youngsters - you slowpokes !!!

Professional Development

Guys,

I wonder how many of you have visited RBI, Nagpur website and clicked on the "Security Management" tab on the left sidebar ? Well, do it now if you haven't already done so !! Capt Shailendranath has posted some excellent powerpoint presentations on Bomb Threat, The Fallout of 9/11, Disaster Management (for RBI, Nagpur, Additional Office Building, in Hindi and English) and Fire Fighting. A lot of hardwork is evident in his effort. This should encourage presentations on similiar lines which can be made for every office and posted on the related websites. Well done Shailendra !!

Lungar Gupp XXIV

1. “Lungar Gupp” – Defined. Some of you may be wondering why the title of this post is being defined at this belated stage. Well, someone from a ‘non-fauji’ background happened to ask me the meaning of this title recently. I told him that “lungar” in army parlance meant the cookhouse where hungry soldiers got together to have a quick meal and share some gossip. Lungar Gupp referred to the ‘gossip’ doing the rounds. In my blog this means gossip, unconfirmed reports, rumours, hearsay, etc, etc. It is all meant to be taken with ‘generous’ helpings of salt. No offence meant – it is all in a lighter vein. So guys, please take this as a disclaimer, no further clarifications wil be given.

2. Career Progression . It is believed that 7 additional posts of AGMs are likely to be created which will take the total to 12 posts. The flip side is that these seven posts will be reduced from the 40 or so existing Grade ‘B’ posts. Another feature which is likely to be done away with is the erstwhile ‘barsati’ designation of AGM (though running scale will remain). So this is bad news for those of you who had got two sets of visiting cards printed (one for outsiders and one for insiders !!). In case this proves to be true, our friends in Grade ‘A’ are not going to like it (reduction of Grade ‘B’ posts). Well, let us wait and watch !!

3. Addendum . Apropos ‘Lungar Gupp XXIII’ Sumit Upreti had called me up last week to say that he would be reporting to Delhi office today (16 July 2007). Here’s wishing him all the best.

4. Unity in Diversity . A serving Army officer has sent me a photo which I must share with you all. My ‘fauji’ colleagues will remember seeing such slogans by the Border Roads Organisation in field areas :

Lungar Gupp XXIII

1. Musical Chairs. I believe there is a solid game of ‘musical chairs’ going on for the DGM’s post which will fall vacant on the superannuation of Capt Kaushik on 31 August. On last count there were 5 contenders who are willing to circle the solitary ‘chair’. Who will ultimately get it is anyone’s guess. So here’s wishing ‘Happy Clawing and Scratching’ to all the contenders. May the maddest scramble begin and the most agile win !!

2. Career Progression. Another bit of news that I heard just today is that the Central Security Cell has taken up a case in writing regarding promotions of Security Officers. With the murmurs of grade ‘C’ posts being increased already doing the rounds, I only hope that this new initiative does not backfire and the powers that be do not take it as an affront. Let us hope and pray that the two cases will be not construed to work at cross purposes.

3. RBI Shimla. Our friend Capt Jaswal was in the thick of things (enjoying the cool climes of Shimla) while he was helping set up the new office at Shimla. He spent a week over there helping the GM incharge get things going. Some people have all the luck !!

4. Postings. It is understood that Maj Neelesh Tiwari from Kanpur office is being expected at RBI, New Delhi. Maj Sumit Upreti from Patna (also posted to New Delhi) has not yet been relieved. Seems like some movement is inevitable to these centres from 'house full' places. Lets see what happens and who the hapless blokes are !!

5. Quotable Quote. Here is an original quote from one of the youngsters with me :

"Living in Bangalore is like living in Heaven (provided you have NOT seen hell) !! - Capt Neeraj Dobhal

That’s it till next time. Keep smiling.

Testing BlogJet

I have installed an interesting application - BlogJet. It's a cool Windows client for my blog tool (as well as for other tools). Get your copy here: http://blogjet.com/

"Computers are incredibly fast, accurate and stupid; humans are incredibly slow, inaccurate and brilliant; together they are powerful beyond imagination." -- Albert Einstein

PSP Exam - First Time in India

There is good news on the ASIS certifications front. As awareness about these globally recognised certifications is increasing in India, more and more profesionals are becoming interested in getting certified. ASIS New Delhi Chapter has added another feather to its cap by getting approval from ASIS International,USA, to host the 'Physical Security Professional' (PSP) exam at New Delhi in November 2007. The exam will be held in conjunction with the CPP exam already scheduled for November. Details about this certification are available on the ASIS website. Certification from ASIS offers career enhancing benefits and recognition within the industry which is much sought after. So start studying and take your pick of the certfications available.

Night Blooming Cereus - Ornamental Flower

Bangalore is a city blessed with salubrious climate and exotic plant life. The plants and flowers which one can see here will surely be a rare sight anywhere else. We have one such plant in our house which is called 'Brahma Kamala' locally. The flower blooms only for one night. The buds take about a month to develop and the flower starts blooming after sunset and is at its best by midnight after which it withers away. The origin of this plant is said to be Mexico and is called 'Epiphyllum Oypetium' belonging to the family ' Cactaceae' in Botanical terms.

June/July is the time many households in Bangalore eagerly await to see this flower blooming. Those who have it in their houses consider it an 'auspcious' occasion to see the flower bloom. The amazing part is that the flower shoots out of the leaf. Smaller leaves also shoot out of veins of larger ones and there is no way one can tell whether a particular vein will shoot out a leaf or a flower. See the attached photos and marvel at this beautiful wonder of nature.

The Brahmal Kamala flower bud.

Note how the flower bud is coming out of the leaf.

The Brahma Kamala bud about to bloom


The majestic Brahma Kamala

The Brahma Kamala in full bloom

'Fauji' Sites

Guys,

Here are two awesome sites related to the Indian Armed Forces and Defence :

1. http://www.bharat-rakshak.com

2. http://www.india-defence.com

The first site has Indian and International Military links, a discussion forum and top stories related to defence. It contains all information about the Indian Army, Airforce, Navy, Paramilitary Forces and the Police. A lot of historical facts and photographs can be found here. Dont be surprised to see the exact number of troops, weapons, armament, combat vehicles etc held by the Indian defence forces. All the wars that India has fought are also described in detail. A lot of information on regimental history is given. It is like attending a 'Military History' class all over again - duly updated. Even a link to 'Janes Weekly' is provided. This is a must see for all 'faujis' , patriotic Indians and security analysts & practitioners.

The second site is related to news and analysis regarding defence of India. A free newsletter 'Daily News & Updates' is provided on registeration. This is also worth a try.

So go ahead and take a trip down memory lane and be enlightened about the latest as well.

International Academy for Security Management

International Academy for Security Management, UK, has been posting various articles and news related to security management for the past couple of months. Some of the posts provide links to original stories/articles which are of interest to the security professional. Some of them even provide handouts etc. For those of you who are interested in keeping themselves abreast with the latest in the security industry, here is the address : http://www.internationalacademy.blogspot.com I have provided a link to this blog on the right sidebar so all you have to do is click on it. The blog is very informative and upto date. Another reason to visit this blog is that there is a very flattering post about me under the heading "Delegate Profile ....." dated 15 June 2007. So go ahead and see my mug yet again - but dont forget to add this site to your 'favourites'.

MY CPP EXPERIENCE

I have been getting a lot of queries about the CPP examination from many of our friends of late. I hope the following article will serve them in good stead and help them in becoming Board Certifed in Security Management.

Introduction
The idea about achieving the CPP certification took root when the Bank had detailed me for a two week course on Security Management and Asset Protection at the International Academy for Security Management, Pangbourne, Berkshire, UK, in May 2002. Mr David Cresswell, CPP, who was the chief instructor and coordinator for this course at that time told me about the value of this certification. I was posted at the New Delhi office of Reserve Bank of India at that time and life was so busy that my resolve slowly took a backseat.

In 2005 I got transferred to RBI, Bangalore, and during the later part of that year, happened to come across an ex-army officer who had passed the CPP examination. This rekindled my desire and I also happened to read about it in ‘Security Today’, a magazine, which I was subscribing to. I became a member of ASIS in 2006 and was hoping to take the test at New Delhi in November 2006. I could not do so as New Delhi was not declared a test site by ASIS since the number of examinees was not sufficient. I am told that there should be a minimum of eight candidates for a particular venue to be declared as a test site by ASIS. I got in touch with the ASIS New Delhi chapter who assured me that they were hopeful of conducting the examination at New Delhi in May 2007. The option of going to Singapore at my own expense just to take the test was not very appealing. To this end I kept pestering Mr G.B.Singh, the editor (besides a host of other designations) of ‘Security Today’ to make all efforts so that New Delhi would be declared a test centre for the May 2007 exam. A confirmation was received in March 2007 that the test for CCP certification would be held at New Delhi on 05 May 2007.

Reading Material

1. The CPP study guide which one gets as a package deal in case the examination fees are paid online is good for a general overview and practice questions. It is priced at $100/- which is quite steep considering the ROI. Reading the guide alone will NOT ensure success in the exam – a disclaimer to this effect is given in the book. The same can be said for the CPP online review which is priced at $ 400/-. At best these resources develop one’s confidence to take the test.

2. Material from the Internet. There is a plethora of material available through the internet provided one has the patience to search, sift and sort it out. Various ASIS Chapters have a study resources or CPP corner which contains articles, practice questions and power point presentations which can be downloaded and studied. The presentations make sense only if one has gone through the subject/topic. There are other sites related to security which have articles and material on security management which provides good reading.

3. Recommended Study Material (priced at $ 1207/-) The kit consists of 12 books on security topics including the Emergency Planning Handbook which can be downloaded from the ASIS website. Most of the candidates for the CPP examination who were from the private sector had the study kit provided to them by their employers. If the same has to be purchased by individuals it will burn a big hole in the pocket. I thought of purchasing second hand books and surfed the internet for sites offering such books. The following are some of them :

(a) http://www.betterworldbooks.com/
(b) http://www.alibris.com/
(c) http://www.ebay.com/
(d) http://www.biblio.com/
(e) http://www.bookfinder.com/
(f) http://www.abebooks.com/
(g) http://www.amazon.com/

4. I found that books were available on all the sites but most of them were charging an enormous amount for shipping to India except the first one. Betterworldbooks ships free within the US and charges only $2.97 worldwide. I managed to buy seven of the recommended books for only $35/-. If someone has a relative or a friend living in the US the books can be arranged at minimum cost. The only downside is that the books will be older editions which in any case does not make too much of a difference as the basics remain the same. This is thus the second best option in case new books are not available. Some of the other sites mentioned above also have reasonable shipping rates.

5. Reading various articles on security management published in magazines like ‘Security Today’, ‘IndiaSafe’ or ‘Security Management’ is also helpful in brushing up one’s knowledge of the subject. Another good idea is to subscribe to various newsletters related to security which are delivered free through e-mail.

Exam Preparation

1. I had tried to collect as much information about the exam as was possible besides what was available on the ASIS website (which is quite comprehensive). I got in touch with ASIS New Delhi Chapter members who were CPPs (6 in all) and requested them for tips for exam preparation. A couple of them were not in India but they responded. Some gave very valuable tips and some did not even acknowledge my mail. The tips I am going to mention in the subsequent narrative include inputs received from these gentlemen. I hope that future CPP aspirants will benefit from the experience of their predecessors.

2. Having collected all the relevant material I set a study routine for myself. I studied for an average two hours every day for three months between 8.30 PM to 10.30 PM. For this purpose I stopped sitting in front of the idiot box and thereby was not a cause of inconvenience for the family who were busy watching soap serials during this time. Studying at any other time or in the office was just not possible and I was loath to take leave for this purpose.

3. One serious reading of the books available was enough. I have been told that the Asset Protection Manual (set of four) is enough to tide one over provided they have been read through. I spent considerable time on practice questions.

Tips to Remember

1. The annual ASIS membership fee is $150 which expires on 31 December every year. For applications accepted after 01 July the fee is $ 95. It makes sense to become a member in January so that one gets full membership benefits. This fee includes subscription to ‘Security Management’ monthly magazine, ASIS ‘Dynamics’ a bi-monthly publication and an annual directory of members. The fee for CPP examination is $ 200 for international candidates who are ASIS members. In case the CPP study guide is included with the exam fee the cost is $ 330. Once an application is accepted the candidate gets three chances to take the test in a two year validity period which is counted from the first attempt.

2. The examination consists of 225 questions of multiple-choice type out of which only are 200 are marked. The remainder 25 questions are for exam development purposes. The beauty is that the examinee does not have any means to identify these questions.

3. Four hours are allowed for the test, which is very long time and everyone can comfortably complete it. One should not get bogged down on a particular question if the answer seems elusive. The question should be skipped and the next one tried. The first question I could answer with confidence was the sixth one. All the skipped questions can be answered after the known ones are over. Some answers come to mind only after reading the question 2 –3 times over.

4. Questions should be read very carefully as the language in some can be very tricky. This holds good especially for the narrative type of questions. If a question seems confusing at first reading it should be skipped and attempted later on.

5. One should remember the exam structure and content (the percentage spread of questions). For example nearly 50% questions asked are from Security Principles & Practices and Physical Security. So one should devote more time to these domains rather then getting stuck with something from which very few questions are asked like ‘Information Security’.

6. Questions on ‘Legal Aspects’ are not set for international candidates so there are only seven domains and not eight as given in exam content and structure. I spent a lot of time cramming up US legal aspects which was of no use. The percentage spread of questions, therefore, is as follows:

(a) Security Principles & Practices 24.34 %
(b) Business Principles & Practices 11.64 %
(c) Personnel Security 10.58 %
(d) Physical Security 25.93 %
(e) Information Security 5.82 %
(f) Emergency Practices 8.99 %
(g) Investigations 12.70 %

7. There is no point in memorizing figures and statistics as there were very few questions related to them. Most questions are set to test one’s analytical skills based on the reading material. There is really no shortcut but to go through the recommended books.

8. Though stationery is provided at the exam venue one should carry pencils, sharpener, a good rubber and pen to the test site.


Conclusion

Meticulous preparation, a systematic study plan and a bit of luck are the ingredients for success in the CPP exam. No one can hope to pass this examination on the basis of experience alone. The recommended study material has to be read. More often than not, I have noticed that someone who has passed the exam is reluctant to share his material, resources and experience. However, I am willing to guide and share my knowledge with future CPP aspirants if they get in touch with me at nandanbisht@gmail.com. I have a lot of material in electronic form which I am willing to share with someone who does not have the study material provided to him by his employer. I only wish that more and more security professionals from our country become Board Certified in Security Management.

Counter Terrorism Training Academy

ITA Group launches counter-terror training academy

ITA is launching the International Training Academy, a new City and Guilds centre designed to provide a range of specialist training to help organisations manage the threats from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), dirty bombs, chemical weapons and biological attacks (CBRN).The Academy’s instructors each draw their knowledge from over 20 years serving in the British Military as Search and Bomb Disposal specialists and the Academy’s courses have been designed to enable civilian personnel to be able to gain specialist knowledge in an environment which encourages the development of practical skills as well as theoretical learning.The Academy will also be launching a series of one-day courses specifically designed to help commercial and public sector personnel recognise the threats from IEDs, and chemical / biological attacks delivered with ITA Group company, the CBRN Team.“The recent chlorine weapon attacks in Iraq highlight the sort of problem that now faces us in the UK. There is a general assumption that the police and the emergency services are totally geared up to deal with this type of attack but it is not always the case that they have the resources to be able to do so” said Mark Ayres, ITA’s CEO. “Instructors from the International Training Academy work with commercial and public sector organisations to teach them how to reduce their vulnerability to terrorist attacks and to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) in case the worst happens.”Mark Ayres added “One of the Academy’s more graphic one-day courses is its Recognition of Firearms and Explosives course (RFX). We take the students onto the military firing range and demonstrate under controlled conditions the blast effect of a variety of explosive compositions and show just how easy they are to conceal. This is an essential course for anyone that performs an operational security role, from x-ray screeners to security directors”.For more details, contact ITA Global Services Ltd, Tournai Hall, Normandy Barracks, Evelyn Woods Road, Adershot, Hampshire, GU11 2LL, United Kingdom, Tel: +44 (0) 1252 342300, Fax: +44 (0) 1252 356060, Website: www.ita.gb.com

This post has been taken from the SecurityPark newsletter http://www.securitypark.co.uk

CPP Results

Guys,
Here's some good news !! I got my CPP Results just today and I am thru having scored above the minimum required scores. A scanned copy of the communication is attached. Since I was the test case, this should prod all of you to go ahead and get your certification. All the best.

Lungar Gupp XXII

1. Superannuation Arithmetic

(This has reference to my earlier post regarding taking voluntary retirement on attaining the age of 50 years.)

Basic Pension = (Basic Pay + PA + FPA)/2 X No. of Years of Service/33
For example (in my case)
Basic Pay = Rs 27425/-
PA = Rs 550/-
FPA = Rs 835/-
Total Rs 28810/-
Hence Rs 14415/- would be multiplied by the service factor so as to arrive at the basic pension per month. DA is payable at prevailing rates. Assuming that I retire voluntarily on attaining the age of 50 years (ie on or after 10 October 2007), the service factor in my case will be 1 (entitled for full pension). Service in the Bank = 17 years 10 months + 10 years 3 months military service already counted. 5 years of notional benefit is also applicable as balance service left for normal superannuation is more than 5 years.

Commutation value is one third of the basic pension X 12 X 12.95 (this is a factor depending on your age one year after retirement – in my case on attaining the age of 51 years). The maths works out to 4805 X 12 X 12.95 or Rs 7,46,697/-

Monthly pension after commutation would work out to Rs 13,600/- approx (two thirds basic pension and DA) at present rates. DA is paid on the full basic pension. The other receivables would be as follows :

(a) Provident Fund As applicable
(b) Gratuity Rs 3,15,000/- (maximum)
(c) Leave encashment
(d) GSLI contribution

Not a bad picture at all – isn’t it ???

2. Career Progression

It seems that there is a move to increase the vacancies in Grade 'C' in our cadre. Let us expect at least doubling of the present five posts in Grade 'C'. For now two vacancies are being taken into account (anticipated) for fresh interviews to AGM (maybe next year).

3. Postings

My friend Sahni has had his request for transfer to Patna instead of Chennai turned down yet again. Sad case !!

4. Back to Snail Mail at Bhopal

I am told that our friends at Bhopal do not have internet access as the facility has been withdrawn. This is a case of regression unless the guys out there were spending all their time surfing.

Gyan from NCDC, Nagpur

I had been wanting to post the following tips on completion of the Fire Safety course which I attended in March. In case something is left out or if there are any errors, please feel free to tell me so that the post can be amended.

TIPS FOR CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF HYDRANT SYSTEMS

1. AMC contractor should check the system viz : hydrant lines, valves, rubber parts, greasing and oiling, and operation of pumps and water pressure at least once a month.
2. Routine maintenance as well as defects noticed should be recorded in a register which serves as a check for certification of the contractor’s bills as well as a reminder for getting defects rectified.
3. Sufficient spares should be maintained like rubber gaskets, gland packing and branch pipe nozzles.
4. Complete cleaning of hose reels, hydrant valves, hydrant boxes and oiling of moving parts and threaded parts.
5. Checking of female couplings, lugs and cap nuts.
6. Every hose box should have two hoses and one branch pipe.
7. Canvas hoses should conform to specifications (ISI mark). Rubber hoses are now available (Fire Safe brand).
8. In case of wet risers the jockey pump should get activated when the pressure falls to 6.5 kg/cm2.
9. Check gland packing and coupling guard in the main pump and the jockey pump.
10. The main pump should be in auto start – manual off mode so that it will start when more valves are opened in a fire condition.
11. Main pump and the jockey pump should maintain a pressure of 7 kg/cm2.
12. A terrace pump is put when there is only one pump (main) available.
13. Check in the pump house whether the pump is on ‘manual’ or ‘auto’ mode.
14. A hydrant system consists of piping, pumps, water tank, hydrants, hose reels, valves and risers.

TIPS FOR CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

1. In a new extinguisher check fitment items and tightness of various components.
2. All rubber washers (under the cap) should be changed annually.
3. Check movement of spring loaded plunger (it should not make a scratchy/squeaky sound – otherwise greasing should be done).
4. Check ‘snifter’ valve (this works on low pressure and caters for expansion of air inside the water type extinguisher especially when it is placed in open areas).
5. Check the vent holes in the cap for clogging.
6. CO2 Gas Cartridge. The dimensions are given on the neck. Up to 10% loss in weight is acceptable otherwise it should be refilled. The cartridge should be discarded after 20 years of use (year of manufacturing is given on the neck) unless it passes the hydraulic pressure test.
7. In case of extinguishers which have been subjected to hydraulic pressure test – insist on the certificate issued by the testing authority.
8. At least 10% of spares for Fire Extinguishers should be kept in stock.
9. In case of Mechanical Foam extinguishers 540 ml foam concentrate is to be mixed in 9 litres of water and poured into the extinguisher.
10. In case of Dry Chemical Powder extinguishers which are suitable for class ‘B’ and ‘C’ fires the powder content is either Sodium Bicarbonate or Potassium Bicarbonate. In case of ABC powder type (DCP which is suitable for class A, B or C fire) the content is Mono Ammonium Phosphate which is an excellent extinguishing agent.
11. In refilling DCP extinguishers only a single brand and type of powder should be used so as to avoid a chemical reaction.
12. In CO2 extinguishers relevant data is given on the neck of the cylinder viz : cylinder number, year of manufacture etc. Tally the cylinder number with the explosive certificate. Under IS specifications only wheel type valve mechanism cylinders are manufactured rather than the squeeze grip type which are used in other countries.
13. Pressure test can be done within the premises in case a cage is available. Pressure at 20 kg/cm2 has to be maintained for two minutes (as per IS specifications).
14. In case of CO2 extinguishers, pressure test has to be carried out every time they are refilled (ask for the test certificate).
15. Of all the fire extinguishers due for hydraulic pressure test if the failure rate is more than 10% then all should be subjected to the test.
16. Fire extinguishers should be installed at least 1000 mm above the floor away from entry/exit points.
17. For ordinary or low hazard areas one Fire Extinguisher per 600 sq mtrs should be installed. For special or high hazard areas every 100 sq mtrs area should have two extinguishers.
18. ABC type extinguishers can be installed everywhere.
19. For storage tank fires or transformer/generator fire high velocity spray emulsifier is ideal.