The homeland security market is expected to expand from $ 8 billion (about Rs 36,800 crore) now to $ 13 billion (about Rs 59,800 crore) by 2014 with a significant opportunity for the private sector to participate, security experts and policy makers said today.
By 2018, this market comprising of capital spend from government, private sector and some part of export demand is likely to be worth $ 16 billion dollars (about Rs 73,600 crore), they said.
“The government and industry should collaborate to upgrade and modernise security systems and communication networks,” said M. Venkaiah Naidu, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs.
He said India’s homeland security is shaped by internal, regional and global factors. A porous border which needs fencing and the largely-unmanned 7,516 km coastline pose new challenges.
“We have cross-border terrorism in the north, insurgency by various militant groups in northeastern states and the Maoist insurgency throughout central India with varying shades of lethality,” said Naidu. “A combination of internal disturbances presents unprecedented challenges of an all-embracing security framework.”
Chairman of Assocham’s national defence council P.C. Bhasin said there is a plethora of state security agencies with a minimal ability to coordinate while dealing with these threats in an effective manner.
He said the government is gearing up for a long-term with an organised and targeted development of homeland security focused infrastructure. Vice Admiral (Retd) Bhasin referred to the National Information Grid being set up by combining individual databases of several government agencies, and setting up of a crime and criminal tracking networks and systems.
Assocham secretary general D.S. Rawat said the homeland security sector employs more than 60 lakh workers and the number is projected to double in the next four to five years. He said the industry has already taken note of the potential growth opportunities.
