By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, May 5:
The “Naval Investiture Ceremony – 2022’ to felicitate Naval personnel who demonstrated gallant acts, leadership, professional achievements, and distinguished service of high order was held at the Naval Base, Kochi in Kerala on Wednesday.
Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) on behalf of the President of India, conferred the Gallantry and Distinguished Service awards to the recipients during the investiture ceremony an official statement said.
On the occasion, a total of 31 medals including “six Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry)”, eight Nao Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty), 17 Vishisht Seva Medal were presented to the awardees. In addition, the “Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak” (posthumously) was presented to the Father of Ramavtar Godara, COM I (EW), who had made the supreme sacrifice while attempting to rescue an unknown individual drowning in a water reservoir in Nagaur district, Rajasthan on August 10, 2020.
The CNS also gave away the “Lt VK Jain Memorial Gold Medal” for pioneering research in the field of weapon improvement and Electrical Engineering and “Capt Ravi Dhir Memorial Gold Medal” for promoting Flight Safety during the event. The “CNS Trophy for Best Green Practice 2021” was awarded to “INS Eksila” and “INS Hamla” in the Industrial and non-industrial categories respectively.
The “Unit Citations for operational units” category were awarded to Indian Naval Ships “Tarkash”, “Nireekshak”, “Khanderi” and “Astradharani”. The “unit citations” for shore establishments were awarded to INS Angre, NSRY (Port Blair), INS Dega, and INS Hamla which delivered exceptional performances over the past year.
“Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry)”: Capt Sunil S Korti, Cdr Dhanush Menon, Cdr Bipin Panikar, and Cdr Raj Krishna Manu. “Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak (posthumously): received by father of Late Ramavtar Godara, Com I (EW)
The ceremony was witnessed by the spouses and families of awardees and by several senior dignitaries of the Indian Navy as well.
