Goa: Surge in hiring of private agencies to keep tab on kin

An increasing number of people in Goa are hiring services of private security agencies and detectives to keep a tab on their family members, especially youngsters, in order to ensure their "safety".
"The trend which was earlier seen only in metro cities like Mumbai, is picking up in Goa too," said Janardhan Bhandari, joint treasurer of Security Association of Goa (SAG), an umbrella body of all security agencies operating in the state.
"The customers are usually wealthy people who want details about daily routines of their family members. This is not spying. It is done for the family's safety," he said.

Detective agencies have expertise in such services while some security agencies too have begun taking such assignments, which are on daily or monthly basis, said Bhandari, who is also a partner in Goa Intelligence Security Services.
"The charges for such services are high as it includes travel and equipment like camera to keep watch on every movement of the person. The pricing starts from Rs 5,000 per day per person employed," he said.
SAG member Dhanraj Harmalkar said, "The trend had started some seven to eight years back in Goa. But now the demand is growing."

Harmalkar, who owns Dynamic Personal Bureau Services, says, "these services are not because someone does not trust another person".

"It is not negative. It is to prevent children from getting into bad habits or sometimes to keep the family member secure. It also saves the family members from getting into untoward situations," he said.
Goa has around 350 security agencies which undertake work ranging from security guards, detective to executive protection services, commonly known as escorts for VIPs.
Bhandari said, Goa's emergence as a film shooting destination created the need for escorts of VIPs, like film stars.
"There is demand for such services from celebrities and also corporate bosses during their visit to Goa," he said.
Some corporate companies have also begun hiring the agencies to cross-check the background of their employees, who are mostly serving the high and crucial positions.

"The company management wants to know whether they can trust the person with highly sensitive and confidential jobs. That is why private agencies are employed who get into the detailed background of the person," he said.