Mr. Ar Rm Arun, Co-Chairman of the FICCI’s Science & Technology committee and Vice Chairman of SPEL Semiconductor Limited gave a presentation at a Seminar on Science and Technology for Homeland Security conducted by FICCI, Delhi on Oct 9, 2009 at FICCI Federation House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi. This seminar was held to initiate discussion on how best can India tackle issues of terrorism. The sessions discussed how technologies can be used for security, minimizing infrastructural damages, reduce Agricultural and Bioterrorism threats, costal security etc. There was a tremendous scope for learning from experiences of Israel, USA, UK, etc.

The Inaugural session of this seminar was addressed by Mr. G. K. Pillai, Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, Mr. Madhukar Gupta, Former Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr. Steve Swain, CEO, SITC – Security Innovation Technology Consortia, UK, Mr. Avi Shavit, Head of Homeland Security, Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor, Israel & Mr. Sushil Jiwarajka, Chairman, FICCI Innovation Committee and Chairman Artheon Group. Having been part of the Inaugural Session Mr. Arun pointed out the need for a strategic approach to Homeland security in India.

Mr Arun also chaired a Session titled “Gearing up for Security” aimed to interact with organizations dealing with security equipments and user agencies and deliberate if there exists the right capacity and capability to meet the demands of the growing homeland security market. In his presentation, he spelled out how Science & Technology specific to homeland security would include the means to ensure surveillance and intelligence, command control & communication; tracking systems, threat neutralization response, law enforcement, develop methodologies for recovery & consequence management. Impressing the need for better economic growth & security, he mentioned about why India needs to invest more on Homeland security and upgrade to modern hi-tech security equipments, better costal security provisions, personnel training and co-ordination between the various Government security agencies. He concluded his presentation with a Strategic Method to approach Homeland security starting from Thereat Identification to Implementation of Security Measures while Blocking Vulnerabilities, ensuring Continuous Monitoring followed by developing Ability to Respond to threat & Continuous Readiness .

This speakers for this session chaired by Mr. Arun were Air Marshal P K Barbora, PVSM VM ADC, Vice Chief of Air Staff, Indian Air Force, Govt. of India who gave the keynote address, followed by the Panel including Mr. K. Srinivasan, Deputy Inspector General – Intelligence, Border Security Force, Govt. of India, Mr. Isaac Mushkin, Sr. Vice President, Defensoft, Israel and Mr. T.B.J.S. Rajappa, Deputy Director, Directorate of Coordination (Police Wireless).

There were two other sessions in this seminar. Firstly, Technology to Combat Terrorism chaired by Mr. Madhukar Gupta, Former Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs along with Mr. S B Deol, Special Commissioner, Security, Delhi Police, Mr. Ted Collins, President, Interact Public Safety Solutions Pvt. Ltd, USA, Mr. Alexander Daniel, Additional Director General (Ops),Border Security Force, Mr. Sanjay Bahl, Chief Security Officer, Microsoft and Mr. Praveen Khandelwal, Deputy General Manager (IT), Airports Authority of India.

The last session for the day on Innovation and R & D in Homeland Security Products was chaired by Mr. Sushil Jiwarajka, Chairman, FICCI Innovation Committee and Chairman Artheon Group along with Dr. P. Sekhar, CMD, Micro Technologies India Ltd., Mr. Vikas Sharma, Director & CEO, Sunwork Consultants Pvt. Ltd , Mr. Ashish Sonal, CEO, Orkash Services Pvt Ltd and Dr. Praful Naik, Chief Scientific Officer, Bilcare.