A Guarded City
The story behind the men and women who work to protect
and control the capital of India's Rajasthan state, Jaipur.
Commonly known as the "Pink City" for the prominent colour scheme of its buildings, Jaipur is a vibrant city that is a popular destination in India amongst both national and international tourists.
Amid the chaos of Jaipur, men and women of the government-appointed guard stand proudly in their khaki uniform monitoring the masses.
Upon arriving at Jaipur International Airport, the presence of the guard is made clear.
Their prevalence is not just confined to the boundaries of the airport, with guards placed across the city in attractions, shops and streets.
Jaipur resident Dakshata Soni believes the guard is deliberately visible to deter vandalism, anti-social behaviour and reckless driving.
Soni says the number of guards across the city is increasing as the population grows.
"Jaipur is a very good place to stay... it's so affordable here. Everyone's willing to come here and get settled, so the population is really increasing and so is the guards."
Data obtained from the 2011 Census shows Jaipur's population is rapidly increasing year-on-year.
With a national Census only being conducted every decade, the last known population of Jaipur is 3,046,163.
If the population growth rate mirrors the period 2001-2011, Jaipur's population in 2018 would be 3,682,998.
When asked about why there are so many guards across the city, Jaipur resident Mihir Mishra said it stems from attitude.
"You have people fighting almost everywhere... just to keep everyone in control you must have control almost everywhere."
It's not just guards on the streets that keep watch on the residents and tourists of Jaipur.
CCTV cameras are also scattered across the city. Whether the surveillance cameras are operational is a question yet to be answered.
Despite central intelligence agencies issuing an alert in May this year warning of possible terror strikes in Rajasthan, Soni doesn't believe the prominence of the guard is related to an increased risk of terrorism.
Nevertheless, with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade encouraging Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in Jaipur, the presence of the guard is a comfort highly valued.
