New Delhi, July 28 — The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is set to get more gender neutral through the induction of women candidates into both Short Service Appointments (SSA) and Permanent Appointments (PA) at par with their male counterparts.
The SSA has also been opened for male candidates.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled two significant policy reforms for the ICG on Tuesday aimed at promoting gender parity in the induction and service conditions of officers, and streamlining the administrative procedures for granting ex-gratia to the families of personnel reported missing at sea while on duty.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, ICG DG Paramesh Sivamani, and other senior officials attended the event.
The ICG has always been a gender neutral force as women have been inducted as officers and have served as Dornier aircraft and Air Cushion Vehicle (hovercraft) pilots, apart from performing administrative duties.
The new policy will open up further opportunities for women by ensuring equal opportunities for career progression, commencing right from the ab-initio training phase.
The existing PA women officers shall also be considered for promotion to higher positions subject to fulfilment of eligibility conditions.
The existing serving women officers on SSA will also be provided an option to convert their service to a PA, subject to the fulfilment of stipulated conditions.
"This progressive step reflects the Government's commitment to Nari Shakti and equal opportunity in the nation's maritime security apparatus," the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said in a statement.
The second policy reform aims to bring relief to the next of kin of the personnel who go missing at sea in the line of duty.
Authorities will henceforth declare an ICG personnel missing at sea while on duty as ‘presumed dead’ for the purpose of ex-gratia.
This will significantly ease and accelerate the process for the grant of ex-gratia compensation and terminal benefits to the families.
"This measure ensures that the families of brave personnel are not subjected to prolonged administrative delays during times of mental trauma," the MoD has said.
Singh lauded the ICG for its exemplary service over the past five decades and exuded confidence that these forward-looking policies will further strengthen the morale and operational efficacy of the force as it marches toward its Golden Jubilee in 2027.
The Defence Minister also reaffirmed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s resolve to strengthen the ICG as a modern, capable and future-ready maritime force.