Dhowan: No gender bias in Indian navy

Dismissing suggestions of gender bias in Indian Navy, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R K Dhowan on Thursday said they will prepare themselves for the future when women can be on ships.

“There is no issue of gender discrimination,” Dhowan said responding to queries on alleged gender bias in Indian Navy.

Talking to reporters at Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala near here after reviewing Passing out Parade of 330 cadets of the Indian Navy, he pointed out that women officers marched shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts at the impressive ceremony.

“Today 22 women officers passed out. We are very proud that the woman officer who got the award... not one but two awards is from Kerala, from the local community, a Kannur girl and I think it is a matter of great pride,” he said.

He was referring to the achievement of Darshita Babu, who was awarded the ‘Chief of the Naval Staff Gold Medal’ for the cadet adjudged first in overall order-of-merit for Naval Orientation (Regular) Course and also the ‘Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (South) Gold Medal’ for being adjudged the best woman trainee of the course.

“All our women officers make us extremely proud and I can assure you that we, they are all equal and there is no aspect of very gender bias (in Navy system),” he said.