Home Mangalorean News Local News ‘India Is A Great Country & We’re Here To Protect It’- Commander...

‘India Is A Great Country & We’re Here To Protect It’- Commander DIG SS Dasila

By
Alfie Dsouza, Team Mangalorean.
-
Spread the love

‘India Is A Great Country & We’re Here To Protect It’- Commander DIG SS Dasila

‘India Is A Great Country & We’re Here To Protect It’- Commander DIG SS Dasila of District Headquarters No.3, Coast Guard Karnataka

Mangaluru : On the occasion of District Headquarters No.3, Coast Guard Karnataka is commemorating the 43rd Coast Guard Raising Day on 01 Feb 19 2019, and to mark this remarkable day, various events have been organized on behalf of Commander, Coast Guard District, Karnataka throughout the Coast Guard Week. And since Media is an important and strong communication channel, not only for civilian society but also in the Military sector, an interaction with media persons was organized at District Headquarters, Karnataka at Panambur, New Mangalore on 31 Jan 2019 at 11.30 am, where DIG SS Dasila, TM, Commander, Coast Guard District, Karnataka had a dialogue with media persons over lunch to foster the relation between media and Coast Guard Karnataka.

Before further briefing about the history of India Coast Guard and Coast Guard Day, for a question raised by a journo pertaining to 26 -11-2008 attack in Mumbai by terrorist and how safe and secured is India, for which DIG SS Dasila gave a befitting reply saying, “Indian Coast Guard is strong and ready to handle any situation. No one has to worry about their safety, because we are all prepared and fully equipped with the latest and sophisticated equipment, which can guard our country from any intruders. India is a great Country, and we are here to protect it. So proud to be a Indian, and we are here to protect you all from the hands of any intruders”.

Through a audio video presentation, DIG SS Dasila briefed about Coast Guard Day and Indian Coast Guard : Here are the details-

1. The Indian Coast Guard (lCG), an Armed Force of the Union of lndia under Ministry of Defence (MoD) is entrusted with a well-defined charter of duties towards Maritime Safety & Security of the nation. The service came into force in 1978 and hence, is the youngest of all Armed Forces of our country. The lCG in its present shape was formally inaugurated on 18 Aug 1978 as an independent Armed Force of the Union with the enactment of the Coast Guard Act.

2. The lCG is mandated to protect the maritime and other national interests of lndia in the Maritime Zones of lndia by way of providing protection to offshore and other structures, protection to fishermen and assisting in anti-smuggling/piracy operations, safeguarding the maritime interests and security of India, assisting vessels and fisherman in distress and protecting the maritime environment. Nonetheless, the dynamic role of this young service and her participation in copious peacetime as well as certain wartime scenarios cannot be undervalued.

3. With a modest beginning of just seven ships in 1978 the service has grown into a formidable force with 126 ships, 62 aircraft and 42 stations. By the turn of the present decade, the Coast Guard is to have an inventory of 150 ships and 100 aircraft. lCG is growing exponentially in terms of infrastructure, assets (ships and aircraft) and manpower.

4.. The No. 3 Coast Guard District encompasses the state of Karnataka coastal and offshore waters out over 34,000 Sq NM exclusive Economic Zone of India. Coast Guard units are spread throughout Karnataka at Mangaluru, Karwar and state capital of Bengaluru. This District Headquarters is functioning at New Mangaluru since commission on 20 Feb 1991.The District is spread over 320 km along the coasts of Karnataka. The challenges for the District in the given AoR are diverse from safeguarding the nation’s maritime interest to protection of life and property at sea to perseverance of marine environment. To mitigate fast paced and multifaceted operational environment with, dynamic approach across the full array of CG operations in the given mandate, this Headquarters is having following assets at Mangaluru:-

Offshore Patrol Vessel(OPV): . 01
Fast Patrol Vessels(FPV) : O4
Interceptor Boats(lBs) : 02
Interceptor Crafts(lCs) : 02
Air Cushion Vehicles(ACVs): 02

5. The presence of ships and aircraft at disposal this Headquarters at sea has been Dynamic and Effective and had made coasts of Karnataka safe not only for the fisher folks but also sea farers with great sense of Pride, Valour, Honour, Devotion and Integrity. Enhancing Safety and Security of the Karnataka state, providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief during natural and man made disaster. The diligent efforts of Coast Guard in Karnataka including cyclone ‘Ockhi’ have resulted in saving 202 precious human lives in the year 2017 and 209 lives in 2018 and 19 lives so far in this current year of 2019.

6. lCG forms an important part of the Government’s response capacity and immediate responders in all serious Coastal disaster situations. The pre-emptive and proactive measures of lCG units at Mangaluru during onslaught of floods in city in the month of Jul 2018 wherein heavy rains lashed Karnataka’s coastal districts resulted in saving 39 precious lives. The same was felicitated by District Administration along with Fire & Emergency Services on this year’s Republic Day is testimony of this.

7. This Headquarters undertakes numerous programmes / special cleanliness drive like “Swachhta hi Seva” and “Swachhata Pakhwada” initiative of the Clean India Programme extending to “Swatch Sagar Abhiyan” for Coast Guard facilities in the coastal areas of Karnataka thereby spreading awareness on the importance of cleanliness. Regular Community interaction Programmes and Medical Camps at various fishing hamlets of the three coastal districts of Karnataka also had been regular features to educate the fishermen and coastal populace on life saving procedures, and security issues. Coast Guard has also connected ‘ to the young students of schools and PU colleges through interaction programmes and motivational lectures.

8. Indian Coast Guard units in Karnataka undertook special flights and swift deployments of ships laden with 150 tons (approx.) of relief materials for Kerala flood victims from Mangaluru and same was appreciated by Kerala Samaj and citation was presented ‘at Town Hall on 11 Jan 2019 to this Headquarters by Dr KJ Yesudas. The relief material was collected in co-ordinated efforts with various social organizations and educational institutions.

9. The Indian Coast Guard has been expanding in both capacity and capability. State-of-the-art ships and aircraft manned by competent and professional officers and men take pride in serving the nation and protecting lndia’s maritime domain.

Deputy Commander Deepika Dhiman welcomed the media persons and expressed her gratitude for our presence for the interaction, which was followed by presenting the journos with mementos and then for a sumptuous lunch. Team Mangalorean did some picturesque photo shoots of the surroundings of the DK Coast Guard area-Panambur.

About DIG SS Dasila TM:

DIG SS Dasiia, is alumni of Rashtriya Military School, Dhoipur and College of Defence Management (CDM) Secunderabad. He joined the Indian Coast Guard (iCG) service in Jan 1991 and holds a Masters Degree in Management Studies from Osmania University, Hyderabad. ‘

He is a specialist in Information Technology and has been trained in International Maritime Officers Course (iMOC) at USCG Training Centre Yorktown, Virginia. He had also undergone customized training on National interagency Incident Management System (NiiMS) & Leadership and Management (LAM) in the USA and marine pollution control equipment with Vikoma international Ltd, UK and Lamor Corporation, Finland.

His wide-ranging appointments at sea includes command of five Coast Guard Ships C-06 (iB), Naikidevi(iPV), Raziya Sultana(FPV), Varuna(OPV) and Shoor(OPV). His important ashore appointments include Officer-in-Charge PRT(East), Dy Director (iT) at Coast Guard Headquarters, Officer-in-Charge of MRCC (Mumbai) and Chief Staff Officer Operations at Coast Guard Regional Headquarters (North West) & (North East).

Prior to taking over as the Commander No 3 Coast Guard District(Karnataka) in May 2017 DIG Dasiia has been in command of ICGS Shoor, wherein his remarkable leadership qualities, courage and valour averted sinking of MV MSC Daniella very close to Colombo harbour in Apr 2017. This act of the officer in response to Lankan Navy request has further strengthened the friendship ties between Indo–Sri Lanka.

The officer played a key role during the Voluntary iMO Member State Audit Scheme (VIMSAS) for the Republic of India towards SAR services over Indian SRR and was actively involved in drafting of Merchant Shipping Notices on Ship Reporting System iNDSAR and Plan for Co-operation with SAR services, Passenger Ships, Special Trade Passenger Ships, Ferries and the Shipping Company-within concerned Search and Rescue Region (SRR). ‘The positive role played by the officer during the stint at MRCC Mumbai (2009-11) had immensely boosted India’s counter-piracy efforts and helped in nabbing of 120 Somali pirates by the Navy and Coast Guard.

The officer is a recipient of Tatrakshak Medal for Gallantry for fire fighting Operation onboard MSC Daniela off Sri Lanka Coast. Earlier the officer also has been commended by the Director-General in 2000 for operation ‘Nelson’ as a boarding officer during the apprehension of MV Alondra Rainbow in October 1999, the first-ever joint anti~ piracy operation undertaken by Indian Coast Guard and Navy. This was the first known case in maritime history wherein pirates were captured along with cargo.

He is married to Mrs Jyotsna Dasila, an efficient homemaker and an educationist. They have a son who is perusing an entrepreneurship post B-Tech in CSE. The officer is passionate about sports, long distance running, trekking and his interests include reading, travel and music.


Spread the love

© Copyright 2024 Mangalorean. Owned By: Violet Pereira. Maintained By: Techyyz
Exit mobile version