VISAKHAPATNAM: Gallantry and non-gallantry awards were given away to the recipients on behalf of the President of India, at a Naval Investiture Ceremony, an annual event conducted for the Indian Navy, at Command Parade Ground, Eastern Naval Command here on Thursday.
Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), inspected the guard of honour and reviewed the platoons of Naval and DSC personnel drawn from various ships and establishments of the ENC.
On the occasion, he said that the occasion allows to formally acknowledge commendable gallantry as well as devotion to duty of the fellow shipmates.
Lieutenant Cdr Vikash Kumar Narwal, Lieutenant Cdr Neeraj Kumar, Veer Singh, Chief Petty Officer Clearance Diver I and Rakesh Kumar, Hull Artificer-4, (posthumously) were awarded Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) for their indomitable courage, conspicuous gallantry and outstanding professionalism.
Other awards presented included eight Nao Sena Medals for Devotion to Duty, 16 Vishisht Seva Medals, Sarvottam Jeeven Rakshak Padak awarded to Cdr Shishir Kumar Yadavannavar (posthumous), Jeeven Rakshak Padak to Lt Cdr Kapil Kumar Shishodia and Neelkant Ramesh Harikantra LASCAR-1.
Captain Ravi Dhir Medal was awarded to Aravind Marisamy, Master Chief Air Artificer II and Lieutenant VK Jain Memorial Gold Medal was awarded to Commander Ravi Kumar Singh.
The CNS also presented unit citation to two afloat units and six shore establishments who have delivered exceptional performance over the past one year, which include IN Ships Trikand, Sunayna, IN Air Squadron 312A, Command Clearance Diving Team, Mumbai, INS Eksila at Visakhapatnam, Naval Ship Repair Yard, Karwar, Base Victualling Yard, Kochi, and INS Kardip in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, and INS Shivaji at Lonavala, Maharashtra, were awarded ‘CNS Trophy for Best Green Practices’ for the environment-friendly and green initiatives.