Three women pilots commissioned in Indian Coast Guard

"I have finally achieved my childhood dream of becoming a pilot," said Puja Patel, who is the first woman from Kutch district of Gujarat to be commissioned as pilot in ICG.

"Whenever, I saw an aeroplane in the sky, I used to tell my mother that my dream is to be a pilot and see the world from the sky," she said after the passing out parade ceremony held recently at the DCGA.

The third batch, which passed out from here comprises three female and seven male trainees. They were given away trophies and certificates by ICG Inspector General SPS Basra, after the passing out parade here.

Elated at being one among the privileged, another passout Rajyashree Rathod from Jaipur said, "by completing the training here I have fulfilled my aspiration to become a pilot."

"In Rajasthan, preference to girl education is very poor, yet my parents gave priority to it which has helped me complete my studies and select a career of my own choice," she said.

Her mother Suman is proud of her daughter's achievement and said Rajayashree's grandfather served the Indian Navy, and hence they came to know about the Coast Guard, which helped her pursue the dream.

After being commissioned as pilot, Neha Murduar, hailing from Borivali Mumbai said, "I have accomplished what I dreamt of. There is no sphere where girls are not leading."

Murduar got a commercial pilot degree from the US before joining for training at DCGAS.

Her mother Usha told PTI that Neha’s father had expired and despite all odds she worked hard to obtain her degree."