After its success in Delhi since its launch in August 2017, Global Association for Corporate Services (GACS), a forum of working corporate professionals, formulated the Maharashtra Chapter in Mumbai. The launch event witnessed a get-together of corporate leaders, members of the security industry and knowledgeable speakers from sister branches in March 2019.
All the panel members at the forum.
The emcee Vineet Panchhi kick-started the proceedings with a welcome note and invited Purvesh Gada, Chapter Leader Maharashtra, to present GACS’s safe and security briefing. This was followed by a rendition of our national anthem by children from Dharavi’s Drona Foundation, and the ritualistic lighting of the lamp by the event’s keynote speaker Air Commodore (Dr) Rahul Anand Maslekar, chief guest (Retd) Vice Admiral Girish Luthra of the C-IN-C Western Naval Command, advisor to the Ministry of Tourism India Gyan Singh Rathore and Bibhor Srivastava, group publishing director of ITP Media India and advisory board member of GACS.
Abasaheb Kale,VP, Marsh Risk Consulting, took to the stage next to address the context of the event and the challenges that need overcoming. Vibhu Narayan, Aman Malhotra, Lawkesh Jain, Harmesh Dua and Rahul Lal joined Kale in formally launching the Maharashtra Chapter of GACS.
Luthra, a PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC and retired officer of Indian Navy, who served as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), Western Naval Command from June 1, 2016 to January 30, 2019, shared information on India’s security, terrorism and the formation of the Indo-Pacific Region. Speaking on the key features of a peaceful business environment and strong economic growth for India: National Security & Disaster Management, Maslekar spoke about being commissioned in the flying branch of IAF in June 1984 and retiring after 35 years of service in August 2017. The helicopter pilot has amassed over 6,000 hours of operational and instructional flying in the country and abroad. He was part of Indian Peacekeeping Force in Sri Lanka and UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since his retirement, he has held a key role as National Level Master Trainer by the Election Commission of India. Maslekar’s talk harped upon the current deep rooting globalisation of the world economy and nationalism of world politics.
The panel discussion on the ‘Relevance of Corporates in National Security’ unfolded under the moderation of Vibhu Narayan, VP – India, head – Corporate Services, Reliance Jio. Panel members included D Shivanandan, former DGP Maharashtra, Santosh S Warrick, chief fire officer and fire advisor of MIDC, Anil Parab, divisional fire officer at Mumbai Fire Brigade, Colonel Nitesh Kumar, NSG, Mahesh Narvekar, chief officer disaster management group at MCGM and Vilas Vishnu Shinde, chairman of Sahyadri Farmers & Producers. Each of the members shared their views and experiences, making the panel an eye-opener.
Panel speakers discussing on the topic of ‘Relevance of Corporates in National Security’.
Pratap Karguppikar, former fire chief, Mumbai Fire Brigade, was then invited to share his experiences. Karguppikar illustrated the actual scenario of one of the world’s largest fire rescue operation conducted during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The operation led to the rescue of over 500 people trapped at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai. Additionally, following a presentation on GACS that offered an insight into the workings of the organisation, Sabiha Attarwala took to the stage to recall an incident in November 2018, wherein a 25-year-old flight attendant put her safety training to use to successfully douse a fire breakout in an apartment building even before the firemen arrived.
Towards the closure of the evening, a classical violin recital by Pandit Milind Raikar, Master Yadnesh Raikar, Pandit Vishwanath Shirodkar and Kanaka Rao was performed to pay homage to those who lost their lives due to the attack in Pulwama. The evening concluded with a poetry recitation by the emcee of the evening, Vineet Panchhi.