Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Mr Sarbananda Sonowal, unveiled the ‘Sagar Mein Samman’ (SMS), a policy initiative of the Government of India to create a future ready gender equitable maritime workforce with the ultimate aim to increase participation of women in the maritime sector. The initiative was launched at the inaugural International Day for Women in Maritime celebrations in Mumbai on Sunday, with a clear message of inclusivity, transformation and sustainability of the maritime sector.
The SMS policy aims to build a future where women’s participation is integral to all maritime operations; i.e., from the docks to decision making boards. In order to bridge the gender gap in both seafaring and shore-based roles, this policy provides a structured roadmap for enhanced participation by women while addressing safety, leadership and retention of women in the Indian maritime sector. This programme is also aligned with Government’s DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) objective. Major scope of the policy would entail planning & strategy, training & development, research & development, governance & compliance, communications, and community outreach. It aims to secure objectives like empowerment & leadership, inclusivity & equal opportunity, safety & well-being, and skill development & training for women in maritime sector.
Empowerment
As the Chief Guest at the event, Mr Sonowal underscored the importance of empowering women to drive growth and resilience across the maritime ecosystem. He also interacted with a group of almost 100 women seafarers at the event.
Highlighting on the focus of the government since 2014, Mr Sonowal highlighte d how India’s maritime sector has witnessed a surge of women seafarers, from 341 in 2014 to 2,557 in 2024, recording a whopping growth of 649%. Since 2014, about 2,989 women seafarers have received financial assistance. Due to the government’s sustained effort to encourage women to explore the maritime sector for a fruitful career, the number of women seeking financial assistance has increased from a mere 45 in 2014-15 to 732 in 2024-25. The engagement of Indian female seafarers on Indian and foreign-flagged ships is continuously increasing.
He stressed that Sagar Mein Samman is one such initiative to create a conducive environment for more and more women to join the maritime sector. India witnessed a remarkable 739% surge in registered women seafarers — from 1,699 in 2015 to 14,255 in 2024, marking a decade of steady progress in Maritime Gender Inclusion, a key idea of PM Narendra Modi towards honing our impeccable talent pool with Nari Shakti.
Held under the theme “Women in Maritime: Leading Transformation and Sustainability,” the event was organised by the Directorate General of Shipping, in collaboration with “Sagar Mein Samman” (SMS), Maritime Union of India and National Maritime Day Committee. The inaugural session saw participation from senior government officials, port authorities, maritime professionals, academics and international bodies. Key highlights included a panel discussion on leadership and equity, and a felicitation ceremony recognising women achievers in the maritime domain. The celebration reinforces India’s commitment to the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) mission for gender inclusion and aligns with the broader vision of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said an official release.
Source: Exim News Service: Mumbai, May 19