India’s first woman merchant navy captain Captain Radhika Menon lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday saying whenever she traveled to China, Pakistan, or any other country, she received the feedback that India has a very strong leader.
On the eve of International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an interactive session with the Nari Shakti Puraskar awardees for the years 2020 and 2021, at Lok Kalyan Marg on Monday.
Menon is the first woman to receive an award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea from International Maritime Organization (IMO).
During the interaction, Captain Radhika Menon told Prime Minister Modi, “After you have come into power, there is a lot of improvement in maritime field and inland waterways. I traveled the entire world with ships. Whenever I go to China, Pakistan, or a country with which we are not on good terms, they always tell me ‘You have a very strong leader.’ I am really happy about it and very proud of you.”
Radhika Menon is an Indian female merchant navy officer currently serving as the captain of the Indian Merchant Navy. She is also the first female captain of the Indian Merchant Navy who also leads the oil products tanker Suvarna Swarajya. In 2016, Radhika also became the first woman to receive the IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea.
She is well known for her rescue operation which she conducted successfully in June 2015 saving seven fishermen who were trapped for a week in a boat. she is on the advisory board of Delhi-based maritime magazine name Sea and Coast. She was born and raised in Kodungallur of Kerala. She completed a radio course at the All India Marine College in Kochi and initially began her career as a radio officer at the Shipping Corporation of India.
Prime Minister praised the awardees for the tremendous work done by them, adding that they are contributing to society as well as the country. He said that while their work has a spirit of service, what is also clearly visible in their work is innovation. He added that now there is no sector where women have not made their mark and made the country proud.
Prime Minister said that the government is committed to working towards realizing the potential of women and is framing policies through which such potential can be identified. He noted that it is important to ensure that all women become part of decision-making at the family level, which will follow as a result of their economic empowerment.
‘Nari Shakti Puraskar’ is an initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development to acknowledge the exceptional contribution made by individuals and institutions, to celebrate women as game changers and catalysts of positive change in society.
In all, 28 awards (14 each for the years 2020 and 2021) will be presented to 29 individuals in recognition of their exceptional work in rendering distinguished services towards the empowerment of women, especially vulnerable and marginalized women.
The winners of the Nari Shakti Puraskar for the year 2020 are from fields as diverse as entrepreneurship, agriculture, innovation, social work, arts and crafts, STEMM, wildlife conservation, etc. The winners of the Nari Shakti Puraskar for the year 2021 are from the fields of linguistics, entrepreneurship, agriculture, social work, arts and crafts, Merchant Navy, STEMM, education and literature, disability rights, etc.
Also Read: Complete List Of Nari Shakti Puraskars Awardees For The Years 2020 And 2021
