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 !!)