Ex-servicemen not keen on joining private security services
Times of India: A number of crimes involving security guards have taken place in the city recently. At the same time, more than 6,000 ex-servicemen in the state, who are jobless, are noA number of crimes involving security guards have taken place in the city recently. At the same time, more than 6,000 ex-servicemen in the state, who are jobless, are not keen on joining private security services due to the low pay structure, feel officials who are working for soldiers’ welfare.
One such incident took place on Tuesday, when two security guards, who were on duty at a car showroom, allegedly ran away with Rs 7.5 lakh. On the backdrop of this incident, the TOI interacted with defence officials to know the problems that soldiers are facing to get recruited in private security services.
“The tendency to keep a low cost labour is hampering the quality of security business. It is one of the key reasons why soldiers don’t get jobs in private security agencies. On the other hand, the agencies manage to get cheap labour,” Col. S S Jatkar (retd.), director, department of sainik welfare, Maharashtra, told TOI.
As per the department figures, nearly 6,000 ex-servicemen are working with private security agencies in Maharashtra. another 6,000 are still available in the state. Every year 2,000 people from Maharashtra retire from the armed forces get retired. “Out of these 2,000 people, at least 1,500 can join security services, if proper remuneration is given to them,” Jatkar said.
Asked about the ideal range of salaries for ex-servicemen working in this field, Jatkar said the directions of the wage board should be followed. The Maharashtra Ex-servicemen Corporation (MESCO), a government of Maharashtra undertaking, follows these directions. MESCO was established in January 2002 for the welfare and resettlement of ex-servicemen. Many government offices are taking the services of MESCO.
“The range of payment varies from Rs 10,000 to 15,000 depending on the level of work as well as experience. The hierarchy starts from guard and goes up to supervisor,” said Major (retd.) R G Kulkarni, general manager of MESCO.
Kulkarni said that, with their training and 10-14 years of service, ex-serviceman are anytime better than those being recruited by private security agencies. Asking them to work for Rs 3,000 to 5,000 is not fair. There should be a special consideration for ex-servicemen, if we wish to increase quality of the services.
“Many of the civilian security guards don’t have proper training,” said Subedar Major Himmat Sawant, a security supervisor at YASHADA. “Both physical and psychological training is necessary for the guards. This training should be a regular activity.”
Echoing the same sentiments, security guard Naik Manohar Kingne added that training programmes should organised for private security guards. “Security personnel who get involved in crimes have a sub-standard life style. They are unaware of the responsibilities of security guards. Proper training could remove these shortfalls,” he said.
Some private security agencies agreed with the point and said that lack of awareness about security services is one of the reasons behind the poor pay. “The payment of the security guard is dependant on the clients to whom we provide security services. Many clients are not ready to pay more for these services,” said Col. S S Tawade (retd), regional manager of New Industrial Security Agency. “The problem gets bigger with small security companies,” he added.
Meanwhile, a security guard working for a private security company, on condition of anonymity, said that, on papers his salary has been fixed for Rs 4,000 a month but in actual he received only Rs 2,500. “The company which hired our service paid our salary and a commission of the same amount to our agency. But, the agency never paid us our full salary. As there is not much option, we have to accept such salary.” t keen on joining private security services
due to the low pay structure, feel officials who are working for soldiers’ welfare.
One such incident took place on Tuesday, when two security guards, who were on duty at a car showroom, allegedly ran away with Rs 7.5 lakh. On the backdrop of this incident, the TOI interacted with defence officials to know the problems that soldiers are facing to get recruited in private security services.
“The tendency to keep a low cost labour is hampering the quality of security business. It is one of the key reasons why soldiers don’t get jobs in private security agencies. On the other hand, the agencies manage to get cheap labour,” Col. S S Jatkar (retd.), director, department of sainik welfare, Maharashtra, told TOI.
As per the department figures, nearly 6,000 ex-servicemen are working with private security agencies in Maharashtra. another 6,000 are still available in the state. Every year 2,000 people from Maharashtra retire from the armed forces get retired. “Out of these 2,000 people, at least 1,500 can join security services, if proper remuneration is given to them,” Jatkar said.
Asked about the ideal range of salaries for ex-servicemen working in this field, Jatkar said the directions of the wage board should be followed. The Maharashtra Ex-servicemen Corporation (MESCO), a government of Maharashtra undertaking, follows these directions. MESCO was established in January 2002 for the welfare and resettlement of ex-servicemen. Many government offices are taking the services of MESCO.
“The range of payment varies from Rs 10,000 to 15,000 depending on the level of work as well as experience. The hierarchy starts from guard and goes up to supervisor,” said Major (retd.) R G Kulkarni, general manager of MESCO.
Kulkarni said that, with their training and 10-14 years of service, ex-serviceman are anytime better than those being recruited by private security agencies. Asking them to work for Rs 3,000 to 5,000 is not fair. There should be a special consideration for ex-servicemen, if we wish to increase quality of the services.
“Many of the civilian security guards don’t have proper training,” said Subedar Major Himmat Sawant, a security supervisor at YASHADA. “Both physical and psychological training is necessary for the guards. This training should be a regular activity.”
Echoing the same sentiments, security guard Naik Manohar Kingne added that training programmes should organised for private security guards. “Security personnel who get involved in crimes have a sub-standard life style. They are unaware of the responsibilities of security guards. Proper training could remove these shortfalls,” he said.
Some private security agencies agreed with the point and said that lack of awareness about security services is one of the reasons behind the poor pay. “The payment of the security guard is dependant on the clients to whom we provide security services. Many clients are not ready to pay more for these services,” said Col. S S Tawade (retd), regional manager of New Industrial Security Agency. “The problem gets bigger with small security companies,” he added.
Meanwhile, a security guard working for a private security company, on condition of anonymity, said that, on papers his salary has been fixed for Rs 4,000 a month but in actual he received only Rs 2,500. “The company which hired our service paid our salary and a commission of the same amount to our agency. But, the agency never paid us our full salary. As there is not much option, we have to accept such salary.”
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