To Manage Private Security Agencies
The Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI, has recently developed a platform to manage licensing, training and compliance verticals of the Private Security Agencies Regulation Act (PSARA).
The Act was enacted in 2007 to regulate the functioning of the private security agencies. Passed as Federal Legislation, it was sent to all State Governments to follow the model rules, and develop a mechanism to constitute state controlling authorities to commence licensing processes on the guidelines enumerated in the PSARA by the Central Government. Most of the State Governments delegated controlling powers to their state police departments and appointed their IGPs as State Controlling Authorities.
The private security industry has been facing some functional difficulties due to non-clarity on various aspects of the legislation. Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI), an apex association of the PSI has been representing to MHA to streamline the regulation processes so that the private security agencies could render services to their clients more efficiently, and also comply with the PSARA provisions. The Joint Secretary (Police Modernization), Department of MHA was made nodal officer to coordinate with the state controlling authorities for effective implementation of the legislation. Training of the security guards, police verification, and functional compliance were a few areas which could not be managed due to the lack of coordination among various state controlling authorities.
T.V.N.S. Prasad, Joint Secretary (PM) convened a meeting of all state controlling Authorities (SCAs) of PSARA at Jaisalmer House on May 26, 2017, in which a portal was shown to the participants. Through this portal, each SCA will be able to monitor the compliance of the provisions of the PSARA by licensed private security agencies. Application for the PSARA license is provisioned to be received online through this portal and processed by the SCAs. Police verification of the directors/ partners will be conducted by concerned police station though their computerized networks. Details of all security guards and supervisors, their police verification, training, and wages shall also be managed through this portal. The renewal of licenses which is a major gray area shall also be addressed by sending prior notices to the PSI so that timely action can be taken.
The portal is developed by the Chandigarh Police and was highly appreciated by all participants during the meeting.
It was also decided that security training centers which are duly approved by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) will be the authorized training providers. This decision ends the long-standing ambiguity about training providers which was causing a major problem to the PSAs.
The working group which was constituted to make recommendations for the functioning of the security companies engaged in the Cash-in-Transit business also presented its report at the forum. The report was approved under which specifications for the fabrication of cash carrying vehicles have been defined to endure total security of the cash and valuables. It was also clarified that only companies having a valid license under PSARA will be permitted to carry out the business of CIT.
The MHA has also decided to launch a public awareness campaign to highlight the PSARA to seek public support to create a safe and secure environment in the country. Mamta Singh IPS, IGP Haryana presented her report on the implementation of PSARA. The report was accepted by the committee.
Kunwar Vikram Singh, Chairman of the Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI) along with Anil Puri, Vice President, and Mahesh Sharma, Secretary-General also participated in the discussions. Maj. Gen. K Majumdar, COO of the Security Sector Skill Development Council, raised the issue of certified security guards being trained by NSDC approved training partners.
Rituraj Sinha, Vice President, Security Committee of FICCI, along with Manjari Jaruhar, former DG, CISF assured support to the initiative taken by the MHA.
