PANJIM: Disha Naik, a dedicated fire-fighter in the aerodrome rescue and fire-fighting (ARFF) unit of Manohar International Airport (MIA) at Mopa, has broken gender norms by becoming India’s first certified woman fire-fighter to operate a crash fire tender.
Naik’s journey is a testament to her unwavering determination and extensive training, embodying the spirit of empowerment and equal opportunity championed by GGIAL.
Hailing from Casarvarnem, Pernem, Disha embarked on her ground-breaking journey when she applied for a position in the airport rescue and fire-fighting department at the MIA in November 2021. Her relentless dedication enabled her to clear all prerequisites, and she officially joined the department on July 1, 2022, marking her as the first certified woman fire-fighter from the State.
Disha’s path was challenging but transformative. After a few months, during the course of her employment at the MIA, she expressed her interest to operate the crash fire tender specially designed for aircraft rescue and fire-fighting.
She underwent six months of rigorous external training at Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, equipping her with the skills and knowledge necessary for the demanding role of a CFT operator and making her as India’s first certified woman fire-fighter to operate a crash fire tender.
Announcing the historic achievement in the field of airport rescue and fire-fighting, the GMR Goa International Airport Limited (GGIAL) chief executive officer R V Sheshan, said, “With women comprising approximately 20 per cent of its workforce, it is dedicated to maintaining gender diversity and ensuring equal growth opportunities for all employees.”
Upon completing her comprehensive training, Disha faced evaluation by a special board of experts who assessed her driving and operational skills. Her exemplary performance resulted in her certification as the nation’s first woman fire-fighter authorised to operate the CFT, specially designed for aircraft rescue and fire-fighting.