India facing multi-dimensional security challenges, threats: President

New Delhi, Dec 23: The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, Tuesday addressed the IB Centenary Endowment Lecture on the subject ‘People-Centric National Security: Community Participation in Building Viksit Bharat’ in New Delhi.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that it is a matter of pride that after Independence, IB has been playing a stellar role in providing security to the people of India and assuring the unity and integrity of the Nation.
The President said that the theme for this lecture ‘People-Centric National Security: Community Participation in Building Viksit Bharat’ is of immediate as well as long-term significance for our country. All institutions concerned, including IB, should spread awareness among our people that national security is the responsibility of every citizen. Alert citizens can provide formidable support to the efforts of government agencies engaged in national security. When organised as communities, our citizens can achieve great synergy and support the government’s initiatives for national security. Our Constitution enumerates the Fundamental Duties of citizens. Many of these duties relate to wider dimensions of national security. Students, teachers, media, resident welfare associations, civil society organizations and several other communities can propagate these duties.
The President said that community participation strengthens national security. There are numerous examples of alert citizens helping professional forces with their inputs in averting security crises. An expanded meaning and strategy of national security places people at the centre. People need not be passive observers of what happens around them. They should become alert and active partners in the security of their own surroundings and also of regions beyond it. ‘Jan Bhagidari’ is the cornerstone of people-centric security.
The President said that our civil police and internal security agencies have to work with the spirit of serving the people. This spirit of service will build trust among the people. This trust is a precondition of developing a people-centric national security strategy in which community participation will be a key element.
The President said that India has been facing multi-dimensional security challenges and threats. Tensions in the border areas, terrorism and militancy, insurgency and communal radicalization have been traditional areas of security concern. In recent years, cybercrimes have emerged as a substantial security threat. She underlined that the lack of security in any part of the country has economic impact that goes beyond the affected area. Security is among the key drivers of economic investment and growth. Building ‘Surakshit Bharat’ is necessary for building ‘Samriddh Bharat’.
The President noted that left-wing-extremism is close to total eradication. She stated that intensive action by forces and agencies engaged in the sphere of internal security has been a key element behind the near-eradication of left-wing-extremism. She noted that a holistic approach was adopted to win the trust of communities through several initiatives. Promoting socio-economic inclusion in tribal and remote areas has proved effective against exploitation of the people by left-wing-extremists and insurgent groups.
The President said that social media has transformed the world of information and communication. It has the potential for both creation and destruction. Protecting people from misinformation is a very challenging task. This task must be carried out continuously and very effectively. There is a need to create a community of active social media users who consistently present fact-based narratives in the national interest.
The President said that the most complex challenges to national security are non-traditional and digital in nature. Most of these problems originate from cutting-edge technologies. In this context, there is a need to develop technologically competent communities. The growing problem of digital fraud requires vigilance at the household, institutional, and community levels. Digital platforms can empower citizens to report phishing, digital fraud, and online abuse. They can provide real-time data to relevant agencies. By analyzing such real-time data, predictive policing models can be developed. Vigilant and competent communities of citizens will not only be less susceptible to cybercrimes but will also act as a firewall against such crimes.
The President said that by placing citizen welfare and public participation at the heart of our strategy, we can empower our citizens to become effective sources of intelligence and security. This transformation, driven by public participation, will help address the complex, multifaceted security challenges of the 21st century. She expressed confidence that through public participation, we will all move rapidly towards building a vigilant, peaceful, secure and prosperous India. (PIB)