Guards leave agencies insecure

Nearly 10,000 people employed with various security service agencies in the State have already left for their home states in the North-East, creating a void in the industry.

According to estimates by the Karnataka Security Services Association (KSSA), out of the five lakh security guards in the State about 75,000 to one lakh of them are from the North-East.

The mass exodus has become a matter of grave concern for the agencies.

The Association, which is registered with the Government of Karnataka and is a member of Central Association of Private Security Industry, India (CAPSI) and Association of Private Detectives and Investigators, India (APDI) has about 250 firms registered under it.

‘Registered firms’

K P Nagesh, President of the Association said: “The 8,000-10,000 people who have left is the number obtained from registered firms. However, there are many more people working with smaller agencies and we do not know how many have left them.”

He stated that the situation was under control as the companies could manage with existing guards by requesting them to do overtime and also by making some temporary recruitments. “But if the situation persists, there will be a huge problem,” he added.

The Association has also requested the government to deploy other security personnel like Home Guards, CRPF and others.

“The sheer presence of such forces will boost the morale of those returning to their states and will give them the confidence to stay back,” Nagesh said.