In a groundbreaking move, the Indian Navy is set to assign women sailors to its newest guided-missile destroyer, INS Imphal, starting in February-March 2024. The vessel, commissioned on December 26, is the country’s first warship equipped with separate accommodations for women officers and sailors, a significant stride towards gender inclusivity in the naval forces.
INS Imphal boasts separate messes for males and females, ensuring privacy for both. The warship, with a capacity for 360 crew members, including 20 women, incorporates berthing facilities for eight women officers and 12 Agniveers, complete with attached washrooms.
Sub Lieutenant Anjali Mohapatra, the deputy logistics officer on board, is making history as the first woman to be part of a warship’s commissioning crew in the navy’s long history. The vessel’s commanding officer, Captain Kamal Kumar Choudhury, emphasizes the ship’s adaptable layout, enabling the creation of additional accommodation for women as their numbers in service increase.
Captain Choudhury expressed confidence in the enhanced facilities, stating, “Accommodation is no longer a barrier.” Sub Lieutenant Mohapatra corroborates, assuring that designated berthing space for women officers and sailors addresses the evolving dynamics within the navy.
The navy’s commitment to gender inclusivity extends beyond INS Imphal, with the ongoing recruitment and training of women Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme. These women are expected to join INS Imphal after completing their training, contributing to the increasing presence of women in naval operations.
The move follows the navy’s precedent as the first among the three services to induct women in the personnel below officer rank (PBOR) cadre across all streams. With over 1,000 women Agniveers currently serving, the navy is actively working towards creating an equal workplace for its women cadre.
In a historic moment slated for early next year, Lieutenant Commander Prerna Deosthalee is set to assume command as the first woman to lead a warship, taking charge of fast attack craft INS Trinkat. Approximately 40 women officers are already serving on various warships, marking a positive shift towards gender diversity in the naval forces.
While the navy assigned four women officers to warships in 2021, the deployment of women sailors on INS Imphal marks a significant milestone. Although women officers on warships already have separate berthing facilities, INS Imphal sets a new standard by providing similar accommodations for women sailors, fostering a more inclusive and diverse naval environment.
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