Such guards who are under duress and possess firearms, even batons, may be at a risk of breaking down when unable to control a particular situation.
Nearly five lakh security guards, working for 450 private agencies in Maharashtra, among which 2.5 lakh find gainful employment through the 300 odd private security agencies operating in Mumbai, find exploitation and stress are the two sides of the same coin in the life of a not-so-friendly neighbourhood security man.
"The fact is that private security agencies that were clamouring for autonomy from the regulatory purview of the Maharashtra State Security Guards ‘Board (MSSGB) were granted the same in 2004, provided they accepted certain conditions. They did and 168 (up from 29 till then) were granted exemption," said SB Pol, secretary, MSSGB.
However, Pol added, that one of the conditions stipulated was that payments of wages to the security guards would be made directly by the principal employer (read private firms that engaged the private security agency's services) to the security guard, with the balance being paid out to the agency. "This was done to prevent underpayments to workers but is not being followed in a single instance in not only Mumbai, but also Maharashtra."
Such guards who are under duress and possess firearms, even batons, may be at a risk of breaking down when unable to control a particular situation, said Dr Bharat Shah, President of Indian Psychiatrists Association. So, possession of a firearm and strict disciplining on how to handle it are two things that have to go hand in hand.
"The use of any weapon is triggered by some kind of a precipitating event. In the case of Shahrukh Khan's security guard, it was a sudden impulse. People who have access to firearms, be it security guards or policemen or army men, have some kind of fighting instinct. That is why they are in the business of providing protection," said Maya Kirpalani, consultant psychologist, Jaslok Hospital.
She also added that there is a need for self control, self restraint and a sense of ethical responsibility. Hence, when training is imparted to security personnel the focus is always on how to use the firearm and not when to use it. "It's a matter of patience, training and not misusing the power that a weapon gives you," said Dr Parul Agarwal, consulting psychiatrist.
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