Naari Shakti: Women to serve on select naval warships soon

New Delhi, April 21: Taking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Naari Shakti mission a notch higher, the Indian Navy has granted Permanent Commission to seven women officers.

The Navy also announced that a policy is being formulated for women officers to serve on select warships that have appropriate facilities for women.

Indian Navy's decision follows a move by Indian Air Force (IAF) last year to permit in combat flying roles.
The IAF's women pilots are set to be commissioned on flying roles June this year. Four pilots are already undergoing training at Air Force Academy in Hyderabad.

The Indian Army has already granted Permanent Commission to women officers in select few branches.

More opportunities for women in uniform

The Navy's decision will throw open more opportunities to young women who always wanted to undertake challenging missions like their male counterparts.

Navy now says seven women officers from the batch of Short Service Commission (SSC) officers of the Education Branch and Naval Constructor cadre, who joined in 2008-09, would now been granted Permanent Commission.

"Several progressive and first-time initiatives have been taken by the Indian Navy in the last few months towards empowering women officers. Navy recognizes the importance of providing equal opportunities to women officers," says a Navy Spokesperson.

Navy says additional avenues for employment of women officers have also been opened up.

Naval air arm too opens its doors for women

Starting in 2017, women officers can choose to join as Pilots of Maritime Reconnaissance planes including P8I, Dornier and the like. Women can also join the Naval Armament Inspectorate cadre.

"A total of eight branches and cadres would be opened for women officers in the Navy now," says the spokesperson.

As reported by OneIndia earlier, a crew of six naval women officers is currently undergoing rigorous training for the first, all-women, circumnavigation of the world mission nex year. The team would be sailing on the homegrown vessel, Mhadei II.

"The Navy's decision to throw open more avenues is really inspiring. This is the beginning of a new era in Indian Navy that's sure to propel the dreams of thousands of women aspirants. We would have loved to get the same opportunity, but we are proud that we are serving the Indian Navy now in different roles," says a naval woman officer, who had participated during the 2016 R-Day Parade.

"I would love to see my daughter taking up this opportunity," she tells OneIndia.

OneIndia News