Security forces need better tech to fight terror: President

MUMBAI: Security agencies in the country need better technology as they gear up to fight terror attacks and crime in the country, President Pratibha Patil said today.

"With the rise of terror incidents in the country, our security forces need better equipment and technology as the nation fights terrorism and crime," Patil said at the 46th convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B).

The President praised IIT-Bombay for annually conducting a course on the 'role of technology in crime and crime prevention' which is attended by senior police officials but said it needed to be strengthened further.

Technology applications should also reach a broad section of the nation's society particularly rural areas, Patil said.
"Our rural areas are engaged in the task of feeding the nation and we must not forget that we survive because of our farmers. However, our farmers are affected by floods, drought, pests, lack of infrastructure and low yields as compared to the rest of the world," she said.

"While many of these areas are specialized, IIT engineers have a duty to the nation to produce cutting edge solutions for our rural areas," Patil said.

The President said there was a need to develop efficient technologies to meet energy requirements of the nation and environment friendly technologies to lower green house gas emissions.