Indian Navy Training Men in Dealing with Women Agniveers

Visakhapatnam: Indian Navy is teaching its men trainers on behavioural patterns they must follow while dealing with women Agniveers who will soon be boarding naval warships in large numbers.

Around 1,000 young women are joining the naval force. Some will be at ground stations while others will sail.

Asked about the mechanism the Navy is evolving to prevent mid-sea sexual misbehaviour or violence against women sailors, Eastern Naval Command (ENC) commander-in-chief vice admiral Rajesh Pendharkar maintained that women have been working in the Navy for the last two decades.

“No misbehaviour or violence has been reported so far, as enough measures have been put in place for the safety of women,” the vice admiral stated.

There have been reports of attacks on women sailors / officers of larger navies in the world. In the US, around 10 per cent women were sexually attacked annually in larger ships against 2.5 per cent men.

The ENC chief said Indian Navy completing the basic training for its first batch of Agniveers, including 272 women trainees, is a landmark event in executing the transformational Agnipath scheme on ground. As on date, 750 Agniveers, including 77 women, have presently been deployed at various naval stations in the Eastern Naval Command.

“Indian Navy is very gender sensitive. It gives equal opportunities to women. Women Agniveers will be posted on board ships based on vacancies and facilities on board,” another officer disclosed.