CISF cover to all private firms unlikely

The government is likely to provide CISF (Central Industrial Security Force)  security only to selective private firms as the number of those seeking the paramilitary cover continues to grow.

Official sources said a large number of private firms have sought CISF security cover but most are outside the priority list prepared by the government.

While the government has earmarked about 33 private establishments to be given security cover on priority basis including Reliance Refinery at Jamnagar and Wipro among others, the current list of those seeking the elite CISF protection is 107.

The list of 107 includes five-star hotels and even schools besides certain firms whose installations are tough to be provided security purely because of logistics, like the 250-km long pipeline of Essar Steel running through naxal-hit Chhattisgarh into Andhra Pradesh, the sources said.

"Information technology, power and oil sector are the three priority sectors. Our effort is to provide them security first," a source said.

While CISF personnel are already providing security to Infosys Bangalore and the Electronic City, the government has earmarked a unit for the Infosys office in Mysore.

In-principle approval has been given for providing security to the Reliance refinery and Wipro and some power plants.

"We would not be able to provide security to everyone. CISF is not a guard providing agency. It provides security based on threat to national assets," a source said.

The CISF Act was amended in January last year making it possible for the force to provide security to private establishments.

"CISF has recruited about 21,000 personnel since the Act was amended and security is provided on a cost reimbursement basis," the source said.

He said the force is also providing security consultancy to various private organisations to help them in deciding the kind of security they can have.

"They can deploy their own private security. Under consultancy, we will help them in deciding the kind of security that they can have," the source said.

A review of all government establishments to which the CISF is providing security is also being undertaken to further strengthen them in case of need.

Image: CISF personnel positioned at Infosys campus in Bangalore. | Photographs: KPN