Form of words:
New Delhi: The Indian Navy has deployed 28 women officers on a dozen warships that are actively deployed in the high seas, and will be inducted in all future inductions, including indigenous aircraft carriers.
With the Navy now offering women permanent commission, the force may finally see women as commanding officers of critical warships over the next two decades.
Newly appointed Navy Chief Admiral R. “In line with the Government of India’s objective of empowering women, we have taken steps towards providing additional opportunities for women officers in the Navy,” Hari Kumar said on Friday. Women officers have been appointed on almost all major warships.
The Navy Chief, who was addressing his annual media meeting on the eve of Navy Day (December 4), said the force is Fully geared in all aspects to involve and absorb women across a wide spectrum of roles and responsibilities.
A total of 28 women officers have been deployed on the warships, including India’s only aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, Navy sources said.
He said women have been deployed on Shivalik-class stealth frigates, Kolkata-class stealth guided missile destroyers and tankers.
The new Visakhapatnam class of destroyers launched last month also includes women officers, sources said, adding that the indigenous aircraft carrier, which will be commissioned in August next year, will also have women officers.
Sources said the idea is to have at least two women on board the warships.
In March last year, a A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court led by Justice DY Chandrachud had said justified Delhi High Court’s 2015 judgment granting permanent commission to women officers in the Indian Navy.
A permanent commission entitles an officer to serve in the Navy till retirement, unlike the Short Service Commission (SSC) which is currently for 10 years and can be extended for four more years or a total of 14 years. Permanent commission for women would mean that new entrants would eventually become commanding officers based on merit.
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Results of women’s deployment ‘extremely encouraging’
The Navy has also conducted an internal study to look into the impact of these changes and sources said the results have been very encouraging and the idea was to scale up over time.
When asked what kind of roles are being given to women, sources said that since they have been given permanent commission, they will go through the normal deployment pattern like their male counterparts.
Women officers currently on board the ship include Medical Branch, Logistics, Naval Armament and Observers and Pilots.
Sources cited the reason as to why women have been posted on new ships and not because of logistics on old ships.
Newer ships and all future ships have separate cabins for women, unlike older ships which have common restrooms and bathing areas, with only curtains separating each.
ThePrint informed of in September last year that The Indian Navy has shortlisted two women officers as crew for the helicopters, which will make them the first woman air fighter to live and operate on the deck of a ship once deployed.
In 1997 the first women officers were deployed on warships – Surgeon Commander Vinita Tomar and Sub Lieutenant Rajeshwari Kori were deployed on INS Jyoti, a Fleet Support Vessel.
However, no women officers have been deployed on corvettes, destroyers and aircraft carriers, nor do women serve as sailors in the Indian Navy.
According to data submitted In Parliament in February this year, there are currently 704 women serving in the Navy, which is 6.5 per cent of the total officer cadre.
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