New Delhi, July 28: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh announced two significant policy reforms for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Tuesday, aimed at benefiting its officers and their families. These reforms focus on providing equal opportunities for women and ensuring timely financial assistance to families of Coast Guard personnel who go missing at sea during duty.
The Defense Minister highlighted the remarkable contributions of the Indian Coast Guard over the past five decades in maritime security, search and rescue operations, and coastal surveillance. He expressed confidence that these new policies would boost the morale of the Coast Guard and enhance its operational capabilities.
As the Indian Coast Guard approaches its Golden Jubilee in 2027, the government is fully committed to transforming it into a modern, capable, and future-ready maritime security force. The first policy reform aims to make recruitment and service arrangements gender-neutral within the Indian Coast Guard. Under this new structure, women will now have the same opportunities as male officers for both short service and permanent appointments. Additionally, provisions have been opened for male candidates in short service appointments.
From the initial stages of training, both women and men will receive equal opportunities. Female officers already in permanent positions will also be considered for promotions to higher ranks upon meeting eligibility criteria. Furthermore, women currently serving under short service appointments will have the option to transition to permanent roles upon fulfilling specified conditions. The government believes this decision is a significant step towards empowering women and strengthening their participation in maritime security.
The second policy is designed to provide relief to families of Indian Coast Guard personnel who go missing at sea during duty. This policy grants the authority to declare missing personnel as deceased for the purpose of providing ex-gratia payments. This change will streamline the process for delivering financial benefits associated with service termination, making it faster and simpler compared to previous procedures. Families will no longer have to wait for prolonged administrative processes, ensuring they receive timely financial support during difficult times.
According to the Ministry of Defense, these reforms will prevent families from facing unnecessary administrative delays and ensure they receive assistance promptly. The announcement of these policy reforms took place at Duty Bhawan-2 in New Delhi, attended by Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Director General of the Indian Coast Guard Paramesh Shivamani, and other senior officials.
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