Metal detector – My WordPress

Guest post from T.R.Ramaswami
Why will India never be secure? Because security is a function of discipline and we Indians are the most indisciplined, particularly the law makers and law enforcers. Everyone wants rules for security but would try to avoid following them if it were possible. Here is one simple rule. Let it made compulsory that anyone, starting from the President downwards, who enters a public place – ie railway station, airport, mall, restaurant, shop, public transport, school, college, religious place, public buildings, offices, and certain other designated areas must always have a photo-cum-address identity proof. This can be a driving licence, passport, voter identity card etc. In the case of passport/voter card a photocopy may be sufficient. Let this document be put in a transparent plastic folder and hung around the neck like some companies insist for their employees. The only place where you don’t have to wear this is on the road and in your house. Do this only in the 20 top cities. Too tough? But security is a tough task.
Another aspect of our security is the knee jerk over-reaction after an event. You find gun-toting police everywhere, security metal detecting door-frames installed, frisking, opening of bags, boots of cars etc. In a few days the metal detecting door frames will stop working, the police will disappear and the frisking and opening will reduce to a mere formality. What is required is a sustained, constant, upward moving security drill, with 3-6 months for each stage to be implemented before moving to the next one. With no exceptions. Each one must be announced and implemented with full vigour till the entire process is literally drilled into our psyche and becomes involuntary like breathing. That’s the test of discipline. Let us start by abolishing ALL exceptions to frisking at the airport, including the President, and of course the one and only Robert. Will we have the guts to do this? If not, then don’t even talk about security.

Guest post from T.R.Ramaswami
That’s what we should call our security because it sucks. The other day I drove into the multi-storey parking lot at Inox, Nariman Point. I was asked for my licence and they also opened the boot of the car. After parking the car I took the lift down and walked out of the mall with my brief case. No checking because I was walking out. Then on my return I was asked to open the brief case and I was also frisked/ checked by the metal detector. But no one checked the brief case or the inside of the car when I drove into the complex! What is this half-baked security? The problem is that we think that putting a uniform on an illiterate, installing metal detecting door frames and frisking people is security. There is a lot more intelligence needed even at the ground level. Let me recount a story.
A man used to walk out of a factory everyday on his cycle with a sack. Everyday the sack was checked thoroughly. This continued for more than three months but nothing was found. One day the factory owner told him – Look, I know that you are doing something wrong but I can’t find out. Let me know and I will make you security chief. The man said – I was stealing cycles.
– T.R.Ramaswami