Ex-defence officers to be roped in as CCTV supervisors

New Delhi: The Security Sector Skill Development Council (SSSDC) has decided to rope in retired Army personnel for monitoring CCTVs placed strategically at important locations. For this, it has devised a CCTV supervisor course where specialised training will be imparted to the retired defence personnel.

“This is for the first time in the history of private security that a CCTV supervisor course has been started with the aim to upscale the training skills of the retired personnel of all three armed and paramilitary forces. The course will also improve their employability,” SSSDC chairman Kunwar Vikram Singh said.

“We have been getting requests for specialised people for monitoring CCTVs, which is our first arm of defence. Though retired defence personnel are well-versed with the nuances of security, giving them additional training in CCTV monitoring will further boost private sector security,” he added.

Of late, the usage of CCTVs has become important in managing the security of any premise or location. Whenever there is a crime, CCTV footage is always seen first. According to Mr Singh, CCTV would become a necessity in the coming times.

“While doing a CCTV course, one’s mind should be analytical. One should understand people’s gestures. The CCTV supervisor will play the role of crime prevention,” the SSSDC chief said, adding, “With this initiative we are upskilling people as per international standards, thus helping them make a career abroad as well.”

There are seven million security personnel working in the private security sectors, but still there is a shortfall of about 30 per cent. There is lack of trained supervisors and proper system in India. In the coming times, 8,000-10,000 new training centres will be opened and they will definitely need instructors, said Mr Singh.

The job of imparting CCTV training has been assigned to Lineage India Security and Safety Academy (LISSA) by the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) under the defence ministry. The first batch of the 10-week long course commenced from October 23, 2017. On completion of the training, SSSDC will do an assessment of all the trained personnel before giving them certificates.

“SSSDC has been assigned the task of upskilling those personnel who are already employed in the sector or are looking for an opportunity in the security sector ranging from security guard, CCTV supervisors, and security officers to assignment managers in various government organisation, PSUs, MNCs, and shopping malls,” said the LISSA managing director, Comdt. HS Chawdhary.

“This upskilling programme will keep growing till next year. The classes were conducted by senior retired offers of armed and para-military force officers,” he said.