Saṁ No Varunaḥ (May the Lord of Waters Be Auspicious Unto Us)
Indian Navy has declared 2024 as ‘Year of Naval Civilians’ to improve administration, efficiency, and well-being of Naval Civilians by addressing all facets of Civilian HR Management in a time bound manner. Major focus areas towards maximising administrative efficiency, digital initiatives, generic and specific training programmes, and welfare activities were identified for implementation in 2024.
Naval Civilian Personnel constitute about a third of the Indian Navy’s total workforce and contribute significantly to its operational effectiveness across all domains. Civilian personnel impact the overall performance of Naval formations such as Command Headquarters, Dockyards, Material Organisations, Naval Armament Depots, Naval Armament Inspectorates, Training Establishments, and several other types of support units.
Several initiatives were conceived and implemented in the past to enhance organisational efficiency and satisfaction levels amongst civilian personnel of the Navy. However, it is imperative that impetus be provided to their administration, training, welfare etc. so that they effectively contribute towards ensuring that the Indian Navy always remains a combat ready, credible, cohesive, and future proof force. Declaring 2024 as a year dedicated to them was a step in this direction.
The Indian Navy today comprises about one lakh uniformed and civilian personnel of which the uniformed manpower is about 69,000. The Navy is facing a shortfall in both uniformed and civilian personnel. The shortfall of uniformed personnel is about 21% for officers and 18% for sailors. The shortfall for civilian personnel, with a current shortage of some 8,000 individuals, amounts to 18%. Civilian personnel form the backbone of our maintenance force and have longstanding expertise. Adequate measures have been put in place to mitigate these shortages.
Naval Civilian Personnel constitute about a third of the Indian Navy’s total workforce and contribute significantly to its operational effectiveness across all domains. Civilian personnel impact the overall performance of all Naval facilities
The navy plays an important role in providing humanitarian relief in times of natural disasters, including floods, cyclones, and tsunamis. In the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the Indian Navy launched massive disaster relief operations to help affected Indian states as well as Maldives, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
Over 27 ships, dozens of helicopters, at least six fixed-wing aircraft and over 5000 personnel of the navy were deployed in relief operations. These included Operation Madad in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Operation Sea Waves in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Operation Castor in Maldives, Operation Rainbow in Sri Lanka, and Operation Gambhir in Indonesia.
Gambhir, carried out following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, was one of the largest and fastest force mobilisations that the Indian Navy has undertaken. Indian naval rescue vessels and teams reached neighbouring countries less than 12 hours from the time that the tsunami hit. Lessons from the response led to decision to enhance amphibious force capabilities, including the acquisition of landing platform docks such as INS Jalashwa, as well as smaller amphibious vessels.
During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, the Indian Navy launched Operation Sukoon and evacuated 2,280 persons from 20 to 29 July 2006 including 436 Sri Lankans, 69 Nepalese and 7 Lebanese nationals from war-torn Lebanon.
Several initiatives were conceived and implemented in the past to enhance organisational efficiency and satisfaction levels amongst civilian personnel of the Navy. However, it is imperative that impetus be provided to their administration, training, welfare etc. so that they effectively contribute towards ensuring that the Indian Navy always remains a combat ready, credible, cohesive, and future proof force. Declaring 2024 as a year dedicated to them was a step in this direction
In 2006, Indian naval doctors served for 102 days on board USNS Mercy to conduct medical camps in the Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and East Timor. In 2007, Indian Navy supported relief operations for the survivors of Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh.[81] In 2008, Indian Naval vessels were the first to launch international relief operations for victims of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar.
In 2008, the navy deployed INS Tabar and INS Mysore into the Gulf of Aden to combat piracy in Somalia. Tabar prevented numerous piracy attempts, and escorted hundreds of ships safely through the pirate-infested waters. The navy also undertook anti-piracy patrols near the Seychelles, upon that country’s request.
In February 2011, the Indian Navy launched Operation Safe Homecoming and rescued Indian nationals from war torn Libya. Between January–March, the navy launched Operation Island Watch to deter piracy attempts by Somali pirates off the Lakshadweep archipelago. This operation has had numerous successes in preventing pirate attacks.
During the 2015 crisis in Yemen, the Indian Navy was part of Operation Raahat and rescued 3074 individuals of which 1291 were foreign nationals. On 15 April 2016, a Poseidon-8I long-range patrol aircraft managed to thwart a piracy attack on the high seas by flying over MV Sezai Selaha, a merchant vessel, which was being targeted by a pirate mother ship and two skiffs around 800 nautical miles from Mumbai.
The Indian Navy today comprises about one lakh uniformed and civilian personnel of which the uniformed manpower is about 69,000. The Navy is facing a shortfall in both uniformed and civilian personnel. The shortfall for civilian personnel, with a current shortage of some 8,000 individuals, amounts to 18%
In January 2024, the Indian Navy deployed over 10 warships under Operation Sankalp to protect commercial shipping in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea in the wake of Houthi-led attacks on merchant vessels.
On 5 January 2024, the INS Chennai prevented the hijacking of the Liberian merchant vessel MV Lila Norfolk. Although India declined to join the multinational US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian, the Indian Navy continued to share information and coordinate operations with the United States, United Kingdom, and France.
The Indian Navy through its constant endeavours has strived to provide all round facilities to its civilian personnel enabling them to perform effectively and efficiently, in addition to ensure their and their families’ welfare. Navy knows very well that its welfare programmes and facilities and a professional environment for excellence would make joining the Navy an attractive proposition for our youngsters, to whom the sea beckons.
-The writer is a New Delhi-based senior commentator on international and strategic affairs, environmental issues, an interfaith practitioner, and a media consultant. The views expressed are personal and do not necessarily carry the views of Raksha Anirveda
