Context:
In a groundbreaking move aligning with the Indian Navy’s philosophy of “all roles-all ranks,” Lieutenant Commander Shaliza Dhami has been appointed as the first woman commanding officer in a naval ship. She will lead INS Trinkat, a fast attack craft stationed in the western seaboard, marking a significant step in deploying women in various roles within the naval service.
Relevance:
GS III: Defence and Security
Dimensions of the Article:
- About INS Trinkat
- About Shaliza Dhami
- Women in the Indian Armed Forces
About INS Trinkat:
Design and Construction:
- INS Trinkat is a patrol vessel of the Indian Navy.
- It was designed and constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata, West Bengal.
Operational Roles:
- The patrol vessel is dedicated to various operational roles, including fisheries protection, anti-poaching, counter-insurgency, and search-and-rescue operations.
- Its operational area covers coastal regions and the exclusive economic zone.
Naming Convention:
- Vessels of this class are named after Trinkat Island, one of the 24 islands constituting the Nicobar Islands chain in the northeast Indian Ocean.
About Shaliza Dhami:
- Group Captain Shaliza Dhami is an officer in the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Pioneer Achievements:
- She is the first woman officer in the IAF to receive a permanent commission.
- Additionally, she holds the distinction of being the first woman to become a Flight Commander in the IAF.
- Shaliza Dhami is the first woman IAF officer to be selected in a front-line combat unit.
Navigation Expertise:
- She is a qualified navigation instructor.
- Her role has involved training observers inducted into the Navy.
Maritime Experience:
- Shaliza Dhami is noted as the first woman officer who served as an observer in the Navy’s Tupolev Tu-142 maritime patrol aircraft.
- Her appointment as the commanding officer of INS Trinkat marks a historic moment as the first woman to assume command of a naval ship.
Women in the Indian Armed Forces:
- Total Women Officers:
- There are 10,493 women officers serving in the Indian Armed Forces, which includes its medical services.
- Distribution Across Services:
- The Army, being the largest of the three services, has the highest number of women officers at 1,705.
- The Indian Air Force (IAF) follows with 1,640 women officers, and the Navy has 559 women officers.
- Commanding Positions:
- Several women officers in the Army hold commanding positions, leading various units across the country.
- Inclusion in the Navy’s Submarine Arm:
- The Navy’s submarine arm is open to women, allowing them to volunteer, clear an aptitude test, and undergo rigorous training before deployment.
- Growing Strength:
- The overall strength of women in the armed forces, referred to as Agniveers, has surpassed the 1,000 mark.
- These statistics reflect the commitment to the philosophy of ‘all roles, all ranks,’ emphasizing the inclusive deployment of women in various capacities within the service.
-Source: The Hindu
