Col Kul Bhushan (retd)

India’s chowkidars of yesteryears are now organised into private security services and boast a strength of over seven million. This is approximately five times the strength of the Indian police force. Worldwide private security services are a multi-billion dollar industry.

Today, the ‘guards’ dovetailed with electronic and hardware resources are securing residential and commercial complexes, services, communications, transportation etc. They guard an ATM kiosk, protect important personalities or simply take care of millions of currency in transit, thus enabling a safe and secure environment. Although not meant to replace the regular police, they supplement them, take the load off an overburdened and overstretched police force and fill gaps which the force finds difficult because of paucity of manpower.

The devastating coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) that has gripped the world is unprecedented in recent history. Last time the world faced similar devastation was when it was hit by Spanish Flu in 1918. Since generations have lived past that time, the faded memories and forgotten lessons of 1918 pandemic have left us with scant precedence to follow, resulting in slow reactions even by the most advanced nations. India by far has fared the best; our Stringency Index and slow rising positive cases is proof of this. Hard decisions taken by the government, strict enforcements and health compliances, barring few exceptions, have saved lives, the account of which may be subject of a study later.

While the political leadership has made bold decisions and the bureaucracy has come out with a clear roadmap, the medical services, maintenance staff, police an