Answer
Women empowerment means creating conditions where women have equal opportunity to enter, work, progress, lead and make decisions without discrimination or harassment. In shipping, it means not only recruiting women seafarers, but ensuring proper training, shipboard safety, career progression, leadership opportunities and dignity at work.
Gender equality means men and women should have equal rights, equal opportunity, equal access to training, employment, promotion, pay, welfare and protection. It does not mean treating everyone identically in every situation; practical arrangements such as suitable accommodation, PPE, sanitation and maternity-related protection may be needed to achieve genuine equality.
Sagar Mein Samman
Sagar Mein Samman (SMS) is a Government of India / Directorate General of Shipping initiative for promoting women empowerment, gender equality and inclusion in the maritime sector.
The Government has now formalized a Five-Year Action Plan 2025–2030 through DGS Circular No. 05 of 2026 dated 9 February 2026. It aims to improve women’s participation across maritime education, training, shipboard employment, governance and leadership.
Its key focus areas include:
- Empowerment and leadership
- Inclusivity and unbiased recruitment
- Safety and harassment-free workplace
- Skill development and certification
- Gender sensitization and awareness
- Mentorship and career development
- Infrastructure and policy improvements
- Greater representation of women in technical and decision-making roles.
The Government has stated a target of 12% female representation in technical maritime roles by 2030.
What initiatives has India taken?
India's major initiatives include Sagar Mein Samman, gender-sensitization programmes, outreach in schools and colleges to encourage maritime careers, training and mentorship programmes, development of a National Maritime Gender Framework, promotion of women into leadership roles, and measures aimed at preventing harassment and improving shipboard safety and welfare.
The number of registered Indian women seafarers increased from 1,699 in 2015 to 14,255 in 2024, a rise of about 739%, according to Government figures.