Adm R Hari Kumar CNS Addresses Station Commanders Conference at Visakhapatnam
Admiral R Hari Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, Chief of the Naval Staff(CNS), along with Mrs Kala Hari Kumar, President Naval Welfare and Wellness Association (NWWA), arrived Visakhapatnam on a two-day visit to Eastern Naval Command on 10 October 2023. On arrival, Vice Adm Rajesh Pendharkar, AVSM, VSM, FOCinC ENC interacted with the CNS, and briefed him on the progress of ongoing major operational issues and projects in the Command. During the visit, the CNS addressed the Station Commanders' Workshop being held for the first time at Visakhapatnam and participated in various other engagements.
The 2nd edition of the Station Commanders Workshop, an assembly of all the Station Commanders across the Navy who provide administrative and functional support to Operational units, commenced at Visakhapatnam on 09 Oct 23. The three-day Workshop is being attended by over 100 delegates representing all naval stations, as well as officers from Naval Headquarters NHQ & all Command Headquarters.
During his visit to the Eastern Fleet, Admiral R Hari Kumar participated in 25th anniversary celebrations of INS Kora and interacted with the ships' company of Eastern Fleet ships and also attended the traditional Barakhana. This event was of particular significance as both the CNS and the CinC, are the former Commanding Officers of INS Kora.
On the occasion of Mental Health Day on 10th October, the CNS addressed the naval community and Defence Civilians, emphasising upon the importance and benefits of maintaining sound mental health. The address was relayed online across all naval stations.
The Chief of Naval Staff inaugurated a state-of-the-art Emergency Diesel Generator Facility at Naval Dockyard Visakhapatnam. This facility is capable of providing 7.5 MW of emergency power backup to all ships, submarines, industrial centres at Naval Dockyard, and critical consumers in Naval Base during natural calamities or prolonged shutdown of the Grid. Later, the CNS also interacted with the Defence Civilian workforce at Naval Dockyard. During his visit to INS Eksila, CNS was apprised on the Aatmanirbharta initiatives of the Indian Navy in maintenance, overhaul and spare management of Gas Turbine Generators of Indian Naval Ships. On the 11 Oct, the Chief of Naval Staff will be interacting with officers, sailors, and DSC jawans and will also inaugurate a Defence Civilian Accommodation block with 16 Dwelling Units at Pallava Park and an Officers’ Transit Accommodation block with 36 Dwelling Units at Visakhapatnam. These newly constructed Dwelling Units equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, aligning with the “Key on Arrival” concept, would significantly improve morale among naval personnel by mitigating the shortfalls in the availability of Married Accommodation.
Mrs Kala Hari Kumar, President NWWA, would be conducting an information session on NWWA in the Station Commander Workshop covering recent new initiatives undertaken by NWWA, for the benefit of the naval community and also updating about the upcoming G20ThinQ Quiz event in November at Mumbai and Delhi.
