Private Armies

Yet,their kids seem to move around with bodyguards. Weird? This is a disturbing sign and a strong comment on Delhi today. The seriously rich don’t seem to be as worried about losing their jobs or their homes,or the privileges they enjoy living in a country where labour is cheap and lifestyle comparable to Bel Air. We may live in an era of great economic uncertainty,but parents seem equally worried about security,specifically kidnappings,as they are about their careers.

The bus stop,it turns out,is the most insecure spot in a kid’s routine. (Most of the kidnappings in Gurgaon-Delhi-Noida in the last year have been while the child is going or returning from school.) A mother I spoke to,who is contemplating getting a bodyguard for her kids,made a valid point. The cost she says,of having someone to escort her kids and driver to school and back,accompany them to the occasional play date or tennis class would cost her under Rs 25,000 a month,less than the cost of a fancy hand bag or three lunches at 360. The guard would be verified through great references,will carry a weapon and would look tough enough to deter any potential criminal. Though this industry is largely unorganised with guards in India being overworked and under trained,there are some firms providing quality services at a higher price. Her point is,she’d rather cut back on other frivolous expenses if she has to,for peace of mind.

Sounds like a valid trade off to me. But where does caution end and paranoia begin? Delhi isn’t Nairobi or Rio,where people don’t stop at red lights at night for fear of being mugged. At least not yet. Considering the huge disparities in India,I would imagine our crime rate in cities is remarkably low. But things are changing. And fast.

There are no figures available for kids bodyguards,but security agencies confirm there was an immediate demand for personal protection after a CEO’s kid’s kidnapping in Noida a couple of years ago. Though this industry is largely unorganised, there are some firms providing quality services at a higher price. Fueled by our rapid growth,India’s private security industry has added a million new jobs to the economy every year,for the last five years. The number of people employed as security guards is expected to double again,within the next five years.

While at some level I understand the need of parents to counter every conceivable threat,real or imagined,the message it sends out to the child is you can’t trust absolutely anybody. A reality,maybe,but must it be reinforced by the presence of a strongman at all times?

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