A grand commemoration ceremony will be held on December 30 at Dr. DS Kothari Auditorium at DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi to honour and recognise the contributions of naval civilians in the operational preparedness of the Indian Navy. In an attempt to enhance the efficiency in administration and well-being of its civilian personnel, the Navy had declared 2024 as the 'Year of Naval Civilians’.
Naval civilians play a major role in logistics and administration, ensuring efficient management, distribution of supplies, equipment, resources and seamless coordination to maintain the Navy's smooth operational readiness.
They are also engaged in repair and maintenance services across shops, submarines and aircraft. Other responsibilities of naval civilians include ensuring combat effectiveness of naval forces through efficient armament supply, preservation, storage and inspection.
“The 'Year of Naval Civilians' underscores the Indian Navy’s commitment to recognising the vital role of its civilian personnel in ensuring the nation’s maritime security and operational excellence. This initiative serves as a testament to fostering a robust and inclusive environment for all stakeholders,” the defence ministry said in a release.
During the year, a series of measures were initiated to improve civilian HR management and address various aspects of the professional and personal growth of civilian personnel. This included steps taken to improve administrative efficiency, expedite digital transformation, introduce innovative training programs and promote welfare activities.
According to the defence ministry, some of the achievements in this regard include the promulgation of key policies and documents such as Citizen's Charter for the Directorate of Civilian Personnel, revised HR Handbook on Civilian Personnel Management, and Vision Document for Naval Civilian HR Management.
Steps were also taken to increase the welfare and safety of Navy civilians including the provision of insurance cover for civilian personnel working onboard ships at anchorage/sea and the extension of CGHS facilities to 21 industrial units in Mumbai.
There were also specialised workshops and training programmes conducted during the year.
