A two-day conference of Coast Guard Commanders ended in New Delhi on Wednesday where it was decided to integrate fishing communities living along the shores to ensure maritime security. The meeting took stock of making fishermen an integral part of security and addressing their issues. There are reports that over the years, the initiative has not gathered steam as fisher-folk believe that forced communication with security agencies causes burden and also restricts their forays into fish-rich waters. At the end of the meeting, Coast Guard Director General Rajendra Singh asked the Commanders to maintain the tempo of infrastructure development, quality maintenance and timely delivery. “Positive engagement with stakeholders and integration of the fishing community be given impetus to develop them as our eyes and ears,” he said. The Director General also called upon the seaboard Commanders and Coast Guard Regional Commanders in particular to capitalise on the energy, creativity and idealism of Coast Guard Wives Welfare Association and engage with them to engage and integrate the women of fishing community living along the vast coastline of India and cultivate them as friends of the Coast Guard. The meeting decided to put best practices, experiences, resources and ideas to use by the field units for synergy and coordination with all stakeholders. Singh highlighted the need for a participative from of working environment. He urged the Coast Guard Commanders to engage the Coast Guard personnel in policy formation. Expressing his satisfaction over the operational capabilities and preparedness of all units, the DGICG exhorted the commanders to adopt a proactive approach to ensure adequate measures for surveillance of international Maritime Boundary lines and the high state of operational readiness at all times as we cannot afford to lower our guard.