|
|
| |
Editorial
Dear members and friends,
|
The International Conference on Building Secure Cities for Economic Prosperity and Growth at Hotel Taj Mahal Palace & Towers, Mumbai on the anniversary of the terrorist attack on 26th November, 2008 (26/11) was a poignant and memorable event. Organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the EuroIndia Centre, it focused attention on adopting an Integrated Approach to fighting Terrorism. It was felt that multiple stakeholders must play their roles effectively in case we want to make our Cities truly secure. The Home Department at the federal level and the Home Departments in the States along with their respective Police Forces must undergo a substantive reform process in terms of merit-based police recruitment from all communities with special emphasis on minorities; a National Police Commission overseeing postings, transfers and promotions of police and Para- military personnel; and provision of high quality protective, investigative and counter-terrorism training. The Union Home Secretary, Mr. G.K.Pillai, focused the spotlight on creation of a new crack Counter-Insurgency Force and the development of various Protocols to deal with various specific contingencies.
|
Colette Mathur
Co-President
Harjit S. Anand
Co-President
|
Besides the Civil Administration and the Police at the Central and State levels, several other stakeholders were identified and their specific roles delineated; The role of Companies was examined in terms of both Corporate Social Responsibility and a city-wide Corporate Security network. The relationship between the Corporate Sector and the City Administration including the Police Commissioner was the focus of considerable discussion.
The Role of Municipal Administration in terms of providing essential services like electricity, water supply and conservancy on the one hand and well-equipped Fire Fighting Services and a General Help line on the other hand were also highlighted.
The role of citizens as Householders with family was also scrutinized. The kinds of protocols which should operate if a school or a hospital is attacked. Issues relating to evacuation of students from a school or handling of indoor and OPD patients along with doctors and para-medical staff at a hospital were examined. Further, the matter of a Traffic Helpline was also discussed.
The need to have a Medical Emergency Plan with an appropriate Security Drill for all Hospitals located in a city was highlighted so that victims of a terrorist attack could be provided high quality, emergent medical care. It was felt that a central Health Helpline with the active support of the Municipal Corporation could play a critical role in mitigation of terrorist attacks.
The presentation of the London Case Study by Mr. Brett Lovegrove, Mr. Richard Bingley and Prof. Christina Schori Liang showed how intimate networking with the Corporate Sector and residents helped mitigate the impact of the London Terrorist Attack.
The Keynote Address of Mr. Wim Elfrink, Executive Vice President of Cisco Systems (1) Pvt Ltd highlighted the importance of connectivity between different stakeholders in a city's security and the role of technology in making our Cities more secure.
The event demonstrated the strong bond between CII and the EuroIndia Centre and the resolve of the people of Mumbai to give a signal of solidarity to one and all.
|
| |
Yours sincerely,
Colette Mathur
Co-President
|
Yours sincerely,
Harjit S. Anand
Co-President
|
|
|
 |
Vantage Point |
|
| |
India announces cuts in emission intensity : India's unilateral and voluntary announcement to cut emission levels by 20-25% intensifies the pressure on US and other countries to adopt deep and binding emission cuts , writes Malini Mehra , Founder and Chief executive of the Centre for Social Markets .
[click here for more]
|
|
|
| |
Politics and Economy |
|
| |
Prime Minister ManMohan Singh's address at the National Conference of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission held on 3rd December
[click here for more]
|
|
|
| |
Policy & Regulations |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Kite Monitor |
| |
|
|
| |
Article Alert |
| |
|
|
| |
Memberspeak |
| |
Indians don't know how to accept failure : excerpts of an interview with Jamshyd Godrej, Chairman of Godrej and Boyce and Manufacturing Company
[click here for more] |
|
|
|
|
Members and staff of the Centre are happy to extend their warmest greetings of the season to you and hope that you will join us as a member in 2010!
|
|
|
