Manohar Parrikar bats for larger role for women in Indian Coast Guard combat operations

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today batted for a larger role for women in combat operations in Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and said focus needs to be put on facilitating it.

He also lauded the Coast Guard for imparting training to a batch of 10 women officers to operate a hovercraft. Woman personnel constitute 10 per cent of the total strength of the force, which guards the country's maritime boundary.

"One of the areas we need to focus would be to facilitate greater role of women in the organisation. I am aware that women constitute around 10 per cent of the total strength of the Indian Coast Guard. Women officers have been employed as pilots of Coast Guard aircraft.

"It is heartening to know that the Coast Guard has started training for the first batch of women officers for operating Coast Guard hovercraft. This is a significant step towards empowerment of women," Parrikar said.

He was speaking at the Investiture Ceremony of ICG here.

Last year, the Ministry of Defence gave its nod to induct women as fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force.