Chidambaram for R&D unit in CISF

Ghaziabad (UP), March 10, 2010 (PTI) - Home Minister P. Chidambaram today advocated a “brawn and brains” approach to be adopted by the security forces for protecting vital installations like airports, space and nuclear establishments.

Speaking as the chief guest on the 41st Raising Day of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) - which guards vital infrastructure across the country - he said the force should set up a Research and Development unit comprising “highly qualified guys” from various streams of engineering.

This group should look around the world and understand the techniques they use for ensuring security, he said.

“CISF is protecting atomic energy establishments, iconic establishments, therefore it is very important that we had the latest in science and technology for securing these very vital installations. What applies to an airport may not apply to an atomic energy establishment. What applies to a space establishment will not apply elsewhere.

“Therefore it is important that the CISF sets up a small unit... say highly qualified guys can be recruited directly...Physics masters (or) graduate or engineering masters (or) graduate and then that unit must start looking all over the world (to see) how industrial and other establishments elsewhere in the world are protected,” he said.

Pointing out that there is a difference between CISF and other para-military forces as the former is really a “security establishment”, Mr. Chidambaram said, “So, I think here brawn and brains are required.”

“The CISF is not like CRPF, the BSF, marching with guns into a battle kind of a thing, they are really a security establishment. Therefore, I think there is a certain difference between CISF and other para-military forces,” Mr. Chidambaram said.

He said this initiative of establishing R&D units should be taken up by other security forces also.

“It will apply to others (forces) also... Each one requires science and technology but I think CISF (requires more) because of the myriad responsibilities it handles. It has different kinds of situation. I think CISF requires R&D and today I know that other airports are protected slightly differently. Each one (para-military forces) should develop R&D,” he said.

The R&D centres should develop new ideas, Mr. Chidambaram said.