SECURITY
AND RESPONSIBILITIES
OF
STATE & CITIZENS
The
issue of the state’s security concerns all individuals and hence it becomes a
joint responsibility of both state and citizens. It is only once the protectors
of the people sensitize the public to combat a perceived or real threat that
the security blanket will give the requires insulation from violence that a
proactive approach to educate the masses, especially those who are frequent
contacts like car attendants, coolies, drivers/pullers vegetable and fruit
vendors, shoeshine boys and so on are potential information warriors.
The
suspicious movements of the people has to be reported immediately, suspicious
objects identified have to be made know to people and professionals who will
take appropriate action. It is only mass support that is going to count in the
war against terrorism. People have to be sensitized to the problems and checks
and balances have to be suggested and placed for greater security. Mobile technology,
which has become rather gainful for economic transactions, has to be energized for
usage as early warning systems and people have to be encouraged and educated in
the multiple usage of the facility. The people need to be informed of their
responsibilities towards society. Citizenship has to be regarded as the strength
of a nation. It is therefore relevant to suggest that there is a need for
detailed and deliberate coordination of all these activities and there is a
need to educate the environment through professional intervention, while also
through the mass media. There is the requirement of creating a structure for
spreading the message to the people and making them aware that they are a part of
the advance warning system. In this regards, the role of NGOs will become more
pronounced as they have to share the burden of educating the people on the
intricacies of modern terrorism.
It
is equally important to provide adequate updating in terms of technology and equipment.
A well planned, close circuit television and sound sensors should be
strategically placed at sensitive target locations. High security zones need to
be appreciated well and positioning of early warning systems deliberated upon
with professionalism. It is equally important to have a good communication
network and reliable communication systems. Terrorism, extremism are only semantics,
trying to define the levels of credit the initiators counters are planned in accordance
with the definition. Unfortunately, we fail to realize that these variants are
interwoven and it is extremely difficult to differentiate and to identify when
a particular phase centers the next phase. The government requires enthusing
and winning over the people with initiatives, which will make a difference to the citizens and
hence a citizen-oriented plan has to be worked out to bring about a change in
society should become the focus of all future endeavors.
We
also need to get information on the possible targets and those responsible and
tasked to carry out such acts. To achieve this we have to educate the people
properly from different walks of life and empower the poor on the streets by
giving them simple incentives and motivating them to become facilitators and
providers. In this regards, the NGOs should work towards this and educate those
people who do not get formal education. Along with such a measure, there is a
need to introduce formal education in this area in schools and colleges. The requirements
of a structures approach in tackling this menace and relevant guidelines need
to be issued to all stakeholders who have an important hand in spreading the
message and in impacting the minds of the people. Ti is time for our citizens
to wake up and realize the gravity of the problems of not contributing towards
identifying an impending disaster and not doing one’s duty of becoming a part
of the country’s security apparatus.
As
a result, it is described that the recent intense waves of suicide attacks,
bomb blasts and target killing in all over the country have really shattered the
dreams of the young and the old. We often wonder if such dastardly acts could
have been avoided if only the people in the targeted area had bothered to
notice some uncanny device a bag or a person planting the bomb in an innocuous
place, surely catching someone’s eye. Why do we only reflect on the past and
then try and assess what went wrong? Why can we not become more proactive? Why do
our newsmakers not facilitate crating more awareness amongst the people on the
essentials of citizenship? It is with the support of the citizens of the
country that we can expect the security situation to improve. For it is only in
awareness that we can feel more secure.
