status on campus. Some issues have continued to plague the student
community and the guards. Students have raised concerns about lack
of action, delay in reactions from the security personnel and also at
times, lack of cooperation. At another extreme, concerns have been
raised regarding insufficient facilities for the security guards.
While we are delving into the student and the guard issues, we
thought it is imperative to talk to the person in question, who is in
charge of most decisions. We wanted to understand how the security
system works on campus before drawing some conclusions. The
study on the security guards and the problems they face is underway.
Mr. M.R.Chandrashekhar, Security Officer of the Institute in
conversation with Voices. He is a Science Graduate with a Law
degree from Mysore University. Before joining the institute in
1989, he was the Intelligence Officer at HMT. Has over 30 years
of security service experience.
1. Name of the agency.
UNIQ Detective and Security Services, Vijaynagar, Bangalore.
2. Who owns the agency?
Flight Lieutenant K.P. Nagesh
3. Since when is the agency providing security to IISc?
June 2008. Before that Shashi Security and Detective Services
served for three years. Every 23
years, a tender is called for and the
committee takes the decision. The new agency is well equipped to
provide training to the security guards and ensure good service.
4. Structure
5. Function:
The ISS (Institutional Security Services) manage, supervise,delegate and execute all security functions at the institute.
The CSS (Contract Security Services) are posted to the departments
and hostels.
6. Selection Guideline:
ISS: More than 90% of them are exservicemen
and there is a
minimum essential requirement of serving 15 years in the armed
forces or the paramilitary
or the police forces. Their minimum
education is matriculation.
CSS: The Agency brings them and every new security guard
deployed at the institute is brought before the officers or supervisors
for approval.The parameters considered are they have to be above 20
yrs, physically fit. There are some exceptional cases wherein 810
guards are in the age range of 5560
who are posted to the ladies
hostels. Education is usually SSLC(Matriculation).
7. Work Shifts
3shift
duty for all guards. 6am2pm,
2pm10pm,
10pm6am.
8. Salaries and other benefits:
ISS: They are on the rolls of the institute and paid by the
government of India. They get all privileges like pension, gratuity
and health care benefits. They are also provided accommodation by
the Institute and all privileges which any employee gets. The
Institute security guards get paid a minimum of gross Rs. 8000 per
month as per the 6th pay commission, which goes up to Rs.30,000
per month if you are a head security guard.
CSS: The agency is responsible for the salaries paid. The institute
pays the agency a certain fixed amount. In this case, the institute is
not liable for accommodation, terminal benefits like pension,
gratuity and medical.
The institute pays the agency Rs.5,134 per guard on a monthly basis.
The Agency pays each guard Rs.3600 + 13.61 EPF (paid when they
leave services) + 4.75ESI. For every security guard, the agency gets
Rs.700 service charge per month.
9. Accommodation:
ISS: Institute provides accommodation.
CSS: Though as per the contract the institute is not liable to provide
accommodation, the guards are residing in erstwhile Prof. Vasu’s
house. We know it is difficult for them and not comfortable. They
have staggered breaks and so this arrangement. We are looking at a
proposal to construct some rest rooms with basic bathing and toilet
facilities. Currently, the guards use departmental facilities where
they are posted.
10. Language:
We look at the guards knowing Kannada, Hindi and English. Hindi
is the most widely used language by them as most of our students are
from other states and knowing Hindi helps them to handle the late
night calls at the hostels when parents and guardians call. 30% of the
guards have a knowledge of Kannada. This mix has worked well.
11. Most Guards:
Most guards are from Orissa. Almost 5060%.
They are loyal and
obedient and there have been no disciplinary cases against them.
They have also responded well to the training sessions.
12. Attrition:
10% a month as guards at times go for long breaks.
13. Any changes to security on campus in recent times?
The last three years, we have guards in civil clothes patrolling the
campus. They do a 12 hour shift; do their rides on cycles and report
to the security office 45
times during the shift. They are a group of
5 per shift, 1 supervisor and 4 guards. This is unobtrusive security.
They have mobiles and wireless. They are chosen after they have
served for 12
years as a general security guard, based on their
performance. They are well versed with the topography of the
campus and also know most people on campus. Their salaries are
higher than that of the normal guards.
14. Role of the Security Office for the welfare of the guards.
a) We personally monitor the welfare of the security guards and
attend to their grievances, both institutional and contract
guards. In case the agency is at fault in meting out wrong
treatment to the guard, the agency is taken to task.
b) We do training sessions for them on Gate issues, VIP visits,
tackling terrorist attacks.
c) Three time roll call per day and day to day briefing.
15. Role and Achievements of the security team
a) Prompt action during flooding in SERC and Mrigasira.
b) Also during fire breakouts at Organic Chemistry and MCBL
departments.
c) The driver service for the Health Center ambulance.
d) Help institute community for the verification of passport,
any police liaison, RTO work.
e) Issue ID cards for staff, PA, casual laborers, domestic
servants, retired persons.
f) Vehicle stickers for faculty, staff and students; maintaining
computerized records of all vehicles.
g) Last five years, more than 3 lakh fine collected from
trespassers and people misusing institute facilities.
16. Challenges faced
a) With the Tata Book House and Nesara catering to a large
number of outsiders, it increases the security concerns. The
banks and travel agencies also have a large number of
external clientele.
b) Academic and non academic areas not being bifurcated,
makes security maintenance difficult.
c) Departments like ECE, SERC, Nano Science and JATP are
high security areas.
d) Assessment of security is provided on a need basis and
consideration of threat perception.
17. Role of faculty and students
They should also be vigilant and aware. We bring consciousness
with regular broadcasts. If they provide timely information about
any activity undesirable for the institute, the security can
immediately come into action to make the institute more secure and
deal with the threat. e.g: the sandalwood tree cutting issues.
18. Your personal efforts in this regard.
I have conducted regular presentations for the guards teaching them
how to tackle situations, recognize dangers and threats. During the
Centenary Conference, special care was taken to train every guard
who worked on campus with regard to high level security. I am also
looking at having sessions for the mess workers who work with LPG
gas to teach them about their security and fire concerns. Important
to train the casual laborers as their work is also risk associated. I also
ensured that all construction workers wore helmets.
19. Message for Voices
We looked at our security service being rated with C Grade. I
immediately took action, spoke to a cross section of students and
worked towards improving the services. We feel good when our
work is appreciated or mentioned. It boosts the morale of the staff.
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