India has suffered numerous terrorist attacks, which resulted in significant loss of life and the disruption to a thriving economy. With growing urbanization and half the country’s population expected to live in cities, there is need to secure urban infrastructure against acts of terror. India requires a proactive, strategic planning/ training model to effectively counter new terrorist challenges to law enforcement.
Deco-Nayar provides curriculum in training, with an integration of Tactical Training, Security Solutions and the Application of Force Protection Technology, to counter terrorism. Rajbikram S Nayar, Chairman and Managing Director, Deco-Nayar tells SMEpost.com correspondent H Siddiqui about how the challenges of terror could be tackled.
Q: What are some of the key strengths of the Deco-Nayar group?
A: Deco-Nayar India Private Limited is a joint venture between Deco Inc. (49%), a US based company and the Nayar Group (51%), an Indian company, which has been established to fulfill a critical gap in securing urban infrastructure against acts of terror with capabilities in the Defence & Homeland Security Sector.
This is India’s first joint global venture to Implement Critical Incident Strategies, which can be integrated into Tactical Training, Security Solutions and the Application of Force Protection Technology.
The company Deco Inc. has been around for over three decades and has trained more than 15,000 people in counter terrorism over the last 4 years alone. Deco has trained people in all different types of terrain, whether it is jungles, hills, urban centers, rural sector, or plains, for example, rugged mountains of Afghanistan, Iraq, Kenya and Jordan.
Deco Nayar has a formidable team of former FBI, DEA, SWAT, NAVY SEALS, DELTA FORCE advisors along with Indian retired armed services and paramilitary former officers, who can impart the appropriate type of training modules that are required, at international standards and give the right result ultimately.
Q: What kind of opportunities are there for SMEs in the defence sector?
A: The opportunities in the defence sector are huge, not just for the SME sector, but also for MSME. These fall under the NSIC branch where you can get registered.
To create any final product, there are so many pieces, whether you look at it from an electronic, manufacturing or services point. One has to tie-up with a foreign company which has the appropriate technology and make sure that the technology is transferred.
The appropriate equity relationship has to be established and then one needs to set up the manufacturing units and go forward with production.
Initially this can be done by creating semi-knocked down units, next by assembly lines and ultimately the entire product gets manufactured and inidigenised as per respectable Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ category.
Q: How easy or difficult is it for an SME to get into the field and what are the prerequisites?
A: It is not easy and you have to put time and effort in exploring what products are needed by the Indian Defence Ministry. Then you have to identify your capability to address that need and to bridge the gaps in capability by identifying the right partner with the right technology.
The process is long and cumbersome. As far as the prerequisites are concerned, you have to be registered with the right departments and you also require the right licenses, depending on the type of product/ service you are offering.
Q: What are your expectations from the ‘Make in India’ initiative?
A: As a company we have a lot of expectations, and a real initiative which will go a long way in strengthening Indian defence industry.
‘Make in India’ for us at Deco-Nayar is slightly different. We believe that major national assets are the retired para-military and other defence personnel, especially those who retire early (in the age-group of 37-43).
With our pool of international trainers (retired FBI, Navy Seals, SAS, etc.), we create a knowledge pool for training. This is indigenisation of knowledge, ‘Make in India’ on the service side.
Q: How much weightage do you give to R&D to hold your technology edge?
A: For Deco Nayar, ultimately the curriculum for training is the intellectual property, which provides us with an edge. This requires a US State department export license and also an end-user certificate.
This is a huge entry barrier from our perspective. Our curriculum will always continue to provide us an edge as there is a significant amount of investment in intellectual capital and in the curriculum which is state-of-the-art.
The US government spends the maximum amount on homeland security in the world.
Q: What is your specialization?
A: Deco-Nayar assists Law Enforcement Agencies in the development of urban investigative strategies and the implementation of tactical solutions to effectively combat Terrorism and Narco-Trafficking.
The training will assist in refining enforcement policy, operational and tactical strategies.
We also provide advisers, who will be available to support additional training needs as they develop and assist in obtaining state of the art enforcement technology and protection hardware to ensure success.
