Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauds the vital role played by civilian employees in strengthening naval infrastructure
New Delhi: Rajnath Singh, the minister of defense, has commended the vital role that civilian employees play in bolstering the Navy’s innovation, infrastructure, and operational success.
He made this statement while speaking during a celebration of the “Year of Naval Civilians.” The Indian Navy hosted the ceremony at DRDO Bhawan’s Dr. DS Kothari Auditorium.
Singh noted that a large number of important Navy jobs, including those at Command Headquarters, Dockyards, Material Organizations, and Naval Armament, were occupied by civilians.
He said, “In many important organizations of the Navy, such as Command Headquarters, Dockyards, Material Organisations, Naval Armament Depots, and Training Establishments… it is our civilians who lay the foundation of the strong infrastructure of the Navy.”
Singh emphasized that while the public may see the Navy’s technical achievements, such as its state-of-the-art ships and aircraft carriers, a large portion of the foundation for these developments is laid by civilian engineers and laborers.
“We saw aircraft carriers and other ultra-modern ships in the ocean. We are able to see all of these things in front of us. The labor of our many engineers and laborers, however, is invisible to us. “Our Armed Forces have always been strengthened by these individuals, who always work in the background,” he remarked.
The defense minister recognized the assistance from civilians and underlined the increasing complexity of the Indian Navy’s operations.
“With a complicated organization and a large mission, our soldiers are pushing forward today. In this regard, our civilian partners help our military administratively and technically. Everyone is working together on research and development for the Indian Navy if it is making such strides in innovation today, Singh said.
India’s marine security is related to its economic success, according to Defence Minister Singh.
“It is necessary to protect our territorial waters, ensure freedom of navigation, and keep our sea routes, which are our maritime highways, safe,” he said.
“There is a possibility of increased threats in the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, and the sea areas adjacent to East African countries,” he said, adding that the Indian Navy had boosted its presence in the Indian Ocean region while the United States and other European naval powers had decreased theirs in recent years. The Indian Navy is attempting to further expand its footprint in light of this.
“An increasingly significant component of maritime security is cybersecurity. Ignoring cyberattacks may be lethal because of how quickly they are growing. I think a particular awareness campaign regarding cybersecurity in the military is necessary,” he said.
