Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff during the flagging off of bike rally at Kisama on December 7. (Photo Courtesy: PRO (Defence) Kohima)
Morung Express news
Kohima | December 7
For the first time in the state, the Indian Navy has set up a stall at the Hornbill Festival as part of the Indian Navy Outreach Programme.
The presence of the Indian Navy’s to provide information and services to the people of Nagaland is being carried out through a range of other activities including medical camps, motorbike rallies, visit to schools among others.
Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff during a media interaction at the Heritage Village, Kisama on December 7 informed that these programmes are being organized with the aim to “make the people of Nagaland aware on what the navy does and bring consciousness of what the navy does.”
200 seats reserved for Nagaland
Kumar opined that the in the state of Nagaland, there is low representation despite the fact that there are 200 seats reserved for the state as per a recruitment drive.
“We are keen to increase number of personnel from Nagaland to work in the Navy,” Kumar noted while adding that
In the recruitment drive, a procedure for Recruitable Population is taken into account to access a percentage, which is the past was only for male but now has female also.
But one concern, he cited was representation from Nagaland was very less despite the above procedure being followed for which the awareness and outreach is being taken up.
In this particular programme, he said the Navy was looking at the North eastern states and Nagaland to make the youths aware of the opportunities in navy, he said.
Possibility of signing MoU with start-ups in Nagaland
Apart from the activities that are being conducted now, the Naval Chief informed that it is looking at the possibility of signing MoU with the start-ups in Nagaland so that we can engage them in developing technologies beneficial for the defense.
He said the Indian Navy has identified some start-ups from Nagaland who have come and interacted with them during the festival. After discussion, the MoU will be signed, he later added.
Other than taking part in the Hornbill Festival, he said the Indian Navy plans to continue the feat throughout the year.
“We are in discussion with the Chief Minister’s Office and the resident Commissioner of Nagaland in Delhi to take the initiative forward,” the Chief added.
“It is a fine service which is technologically advanced which has shops, aircrafts, marine commandos and operates in all three dimensions on the sea surface, below the sea and in the air. Now with the cyber and space as well which is part of the warfare domain, we have exposure and experience in all these domains,” Kumar said.
However he said it is generally observed that navy is considered to be a silent service.
Flags off bike rally
The chief today flagged in a bike rally by the Indian Navy Motor Bike team, The Sea Riders, in partnership with Royal Enfield as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Celebrations commemorating the 75th year of independence, across the seven states of North East India from November 25 to December 14 at the Heritage Village, Kisama.
The bike rally is being conducted in two phases over a period of 24 days which is covering a distance of 3500 Kms. Phase I of the bike rally traversing the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland culminated at Kohima, Nagaland.
The sea riders, led by Capt Sumeet Puri, interacted with students at various schools and introduced the spirit of adventure whilst making them aware about the Indian Navy.
Naval Pavilion
Naval Pavilion set up by Indian Navy focus to provide local youth with information about the Indian Navy, its contribution to national security and the various opportunities for employment as officers and sailors.
In the first five days of the festival, the stall registered over 4,500 visitors. A part of the stall was converted into an Audio Visual Room where movies highlighting the Indian Navy are being screened.
Virtual Reality headsets are also available which provided the viewer with a life-like experience and a 3600 view of being on a ship (INS Kolkata) and an aircraft carrier (INS Vikramaditya).
Some interesting products exhibited at the venue are innovative solutions for Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security. In addition, an Indigenization desk to interact with Industry/ Startups has been set up.
The Naval Band with a total of 17 musician sailors is also performing at the Hornbill Festival from December 5 to 7.
Meanwhile, Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff is currently in Nagaland in connection with Hornbill Festival 2022 also met Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on December 7.
