'People least concerned about national security'

National security remained at the bottom among priorities of people as they were more concerned about day-to-day problems like work, according to a survey conducted by the Centre for Security Analysis (CAS).

Lt Gen VR Raghavan, the president of the Chennai-based CAS, said people were not much concerned about national security as they had many problems within the country, including unemployment.

Addressing a seminar organised by the Madurai Kamaraj University on "public perception of security in India", Raghavan, the former Director General of Military Operations, said the survey also revealed that the legitimate concerns of the people were ignored.

"The national security did not mean securing the borders alone. The National security should be redefined following incidents of blasts within the country," Raghavan, who has served the Indian army for 37 years, said.

People needed safety and security, good environment and jobs within the country. "Backwardness also could lead to security problems," Raghavan said.

The distinction between the external and internal threats were reduced and it had got blurred and hence human security should be guiding mantra for national security, he said.