India’s Maritime Workforce Sees 340% Surge In Women’s Participation Since 2020

Women’s participation in India’s maritime sector has increased by 340 per cent since 2020, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said on Thursday.

Speaking at the 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue in New Delhi, Sonowal said initiatives such as “Sagar Mein Samman” are helping increase women’s involvement in the maritime sector by focusing on dignity, inclusion and leadership opportunities.

“Through initiatives like ‘Sagar Mein Samman’, we are advancing dignity, inclusion and leadership opportunities for women in the maritime sector, which has seen a remarkable rise of about 340 per cent since 2020,” Sonowal said.

He said the growth in women’s participation shows India’s efforts to build a more inclusive and future-ready maritime workforce. According to Sonowal, the maritime sector’s development is not only about infrastructure and economic growth but also about strengthening the role of people working across the industry.

“The human element remains central to India’s maritime strategy,” Sonowal said, adding that the country is focusing on connectivity, sustainability and security in the Indian Ocean Region.

The minister said the Indian Ocean is important for global trade, energy flows and supply chains, and called for greater cooperation among countries to improve resilience and inclusivity in the region.

“The Indian Ocean is not just a geographic space, but a global lifeline,” he said.

The 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue was attended by Foreign Minister of Mauritius Dhananjay Ramful, Minister of State of Yemen Waleed Mohammed Al-Qadimi, along with policymakers, academics and industry representatives.

India is currently chairing the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) for the 2025–27 term. The theme of this year’s dialogue is “Indian Ocean Region in a Transforming World”, with discussions covering maritime security, the blue economy, climate change, disaster risk management and women’s empowerment.

Sonowal said India’s maritime initiatives are aligned with the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth across Regions) frameworks, which aim to strengthen regional cooperation and support growth across the Indian Ocean Region.

He also reiterated India’s role as a “net security provider” in the region, referring to the country’s contributions to humanitarian assistance, maritime surveillance and disaster response operations.

“India remains committed to working with all partners to advance a safe, secure and stable Indian Ocean Region,” Sonowal said, stressing the importance of cooperation based on transparency and respect for international law.

Launched in 2014 in Kochi, the Indian Ocean Dialogue is the Indian Ocean Rim Association’s flagship Track 1.5 platform. IORA currently has 23 member states and 12 dialogue partners, focusing on economic cooperation and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean Region.

Reference: DDNews