Ankit Wagh - All you need to know about the CEO of ITUS Sports and Safety

With diverse geographical challenges, India requires a robust and dynamic approach to disaster management and search and rescue (SAR) operations. ITUS Group is at the forefront of this mission, enhancing the nation's SAR capabilities through comprehensive training, advanced equipment supply, and strategic collaborations.
 

ITUS Group’s most effective vertical as on date is its training wing called ‘Indian Rescue Academy’. Partnering with Indian Rescue Academy (IRA), Asia’s largest disaster management training provider, ensures dedicated support for every mission. Its services are available to existing SAR organisations, emergency services, and civilian/community groups, ensuring widespread preparedness and response capabilities.
 
The company is already planning its next step: working with district and city councils throughout India to meet the need for effective SAR operations nationwide.
 
Ankit Wagh, Chief Executive Officer at ITUS, said: “We assist local councils with SAR activities around our campuses and offices. Our motto is ‘Making Missions Efficient’, and we are working towards providing our customers with a holistic Search and Rescue Platform wherein they can access training, equipment, IT solutions and Mission Management Services (MMS). Our experience stems from our handling of various disasters, from high-stakes rescue missions to critical patrol assignments and strategic events.”
 
The IRA’s training programmes are endorsed by the National Disaster Management Authority, with modules in water, height, confined space, diving and other specialised programmes. IRA has also introduced modules focusing on licensing and training boat operators involved in transport and water sports empanelled by the Maharashtra Maritime Board. Their K9 division is staffed by trainers with extensive experience from the Indian Army, Special Forces, and the National Security Guard (NSG), which gives them a wide spectrum of program delivery.
 
Ankit added: “Our equipment and marine division engage in amphibious operations and supplies critical equipment to the defence sector, shipping, and large-scale industries. We also support state police forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and private airports.
 
“Our work with amphibious boats kept Kolkata Port Trust operational during the Covid-19 pandemic, earning recognition from Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, the Minister of Shipping. We also provide specialised advisory services, including Coastal Threat Analysis for the Andhra Pradesh Police and safety audits for infrastructure companies like Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Ltd,” he stated.
 
As many other countries and SAR organisations can testify, India’s SAR community faces many challenges; for example, bureaucracy, as most of the sector is government-controlled, often leads to delays and inefficiencies. Furthermore, many high-end pieces of equipment are costly to import, and there is also a significant gap in trained SAR personnel, with veterans resistant to adopting new skills and technology. In addition, the SAR sector has yet to adopt global standard operating procedures (SOPs) and best practices, with most instead choosing to implement practices that suit local conditions.
 
“We are involved in multiple efforts to enhance India's SAR industry, and through our policy development, we create white papers, conduct gap analyses, and compile project papers in partnership with the Lifesaving Federation of India and other consulting organisations,” Ankit added.
 
As part of their preparedness, they provide SAR, disaster management, lifesaving, and trauma response training and deploy trained workforce and equipment on a public-private partnership basis, distribute aid and relief materials supported by trained personnel as part of their MMS vertical.
 
ITUS Group is dedicated to enhancing the SAR industry in India, striving to overcome challenges and ensure that every mission is met with the highest standards of excellence and efficiency. Their comprehensive approach aims to improve disaster management and SAR operations across India.