NARI SHAKTI IN THE NAVY

Kala Hari Kumar, President, Navy Welfare And Wellness Association (NWWA), talks about the organisation's scope and initiatives

It is no secret that behind a strong and successful organisation is a dynamic and able leader. For the Navy Welfare And Wellness Association (NWWA), an organisation that has evolved over the years to be more inclusive and exhaustive in its scope, that person is the President, Kala Hari Kumar, who took over the reins a little over a year ago. “I have had the good fortune of inheriting an organisation that has been shaped by the vision and hard work of my predecessors,” she says.

From being the Navy Wives Welfare Organisation to its present-day version as the Navy Welfare And Wellness Association, NWWA has come a long way. “The induction of women in the armed forces is something that we're very proud of," Kala says. "It's heartening to see enthusiastic young girls from diverse backgrounds joining the Indian Navy, thereby leading to the Navy becoming increasingly gender neutral."

In recent times, it has been her conscious effort to ensure that whatever NWWA does is driven by the needs of the times. We caught up with her on a busy afternoon. Excerpts:

How has the nature of NWWA changed over the years?