17 security guard agencies to train over 3 lakh guards

As many as 17 security guard agencies have committed to training over 3 lakh security persons under a government scheme, the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship (MSDE) said.

Top officials of security services providers such as SIS, G4S, Peregrine, Checkmate, NISA, SMS Security and Orion have inked memoranda of understanding with the Management and Entrepreneurship & Professional Skills Council (MEPSC) for conducting the training under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) scheme, the ministry said.

"With the increase in businesses, retail outlets and other public places, the Indian private security services industry are expected to grow at a fast pace. One of the consistent endeavours of my ministry is to prepare the youth industry ready through RPL and other short-term skilling programmes," Petroleum and Skills development minister Dharmendra Pradhan said.

RPL is a platform to provide recognition to the informal learning or learning through work to get equal acceptance to the formal levels of education. The RPL certification would be at par with the certifications following various skill training in the country.

The ministry is committed to taking this sector to the next level and looks forward to collaborations from private players to bring in market-relevant best practices, Pradhan said.

According to the statement, the private security industry in India employs 8.5 million people of which 2.2 million people are employed by the police services only.

Industry reports and surveys depict incremental demand for manpower in the security sector by 2022 will be over 12 million.

"Over 1.30 Lakh students have been trained and a significant 75 per cent certified under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) under the Security Sector Skill Council. With this MoU in place, industry committed to train and certify 3.17 Lakh security personnel under RPL in the security sector," the statement said. PTI PRS MR MR