For the first time, two women officers, Sub Lieutenant Kumudini Tyagi and Sub Lieutenant Riti Singh will be posted on the Indian Navy Warship as a part of the crew.
They will be operating as Observers who are airborne tacticians, coordinating and handling equipment for the Indian Navy.
Women are employed by the Indian Navy but not onboarded on warships for a considerable amount of time due to multiple reasons such as ‘lack of privacy’ and ‘washrooms for women.’
The officers are now getting trained to operate sensors onboard navy multi-role helicopters. This also includes sonar consoles and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) payloads.
Two women officers Sub Lieutenant (SLt) Kumudini Tyagi and SLt Riti Singh selected to join as “Observers” (Airborne Tacticians) in helicopter stream of #IndianNavy.
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) September 21, 2020
They would in effect, be the first set of women airborne combatants who would be operating from warships. pic.twitter.com/ZAGKg0RxB3
Reportedly, Sub Lieutenant Kumudini Tyagi and Sub Lieutenant Riti Singh will fly the latest multi-role
navy helicopters- MH-60R.
This is a great step which will ensure gender equality.
Great Girls, Bravo 👏👏👏👏👏 #kumudiniTyagi #RitiSingh Pride of India🇮🇳
— Dr Renu Sharma (@renujaiho) September 21, 2020
Positive News!
— Atul Kumar Singh (@atlsingh8) September 21, 2020
Hope this paves way for more Indian women onboard naval and commercial ships. Indians constitute about 10% of global seafarers out of which 1% are women(95% of which work on cruise ships).Hope to see Indian women commanding aircraft carriers,VLCCs etc,one day!
Great news….women have really come a long way in the services
— kamal (@devilalways) September 21, 2020
Proud moment
— Arghya Manna (@ArghyaManna12) September 21, 2020
The two officers are a part of a group of Indian Navy officers which also includes four women officers.
