In a first, the Navy may induct women sailors, equivalent of jawans in the Army, and also deploy women officers in combat role by posting them on warships and submarines. So far, women officers are inducted as pilots and engineers but are not allowed to join sea- going cadre which requires sailing for months together in operational role.
These issues were discussed in the three-day naval commanders’ conference concluding here on Friday. In the conference, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman urged the Navy to give an impetus to women’s role in the force.
Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba informed the Minister that the issue of inducting women as sailors, so far restricted to only eligible male candidates, was discussed in the conference. The naval top brass also discussed the possibility of sending women officers on sea-going missions in warships and submarines like their men counterpart, sources said here on Friday. They also said the women sailors may also be deployed on warships.
In Navy, combat role means sailing in ships on operational duties and the current fleet does not have facilities for gender segregation like separate washrooms and other related infrastructure, they said. The ships and submarines will have to have these separate facilities if women are deployed on them, officials said.
As regards opening the Navy for entry of women as sailors or other ranks below officer, sources said the Navy Commanders’ conference discussed it adding many more meetings are planned before the final shape takes place. At present, the three Services do not have women in lower ranks though the Army last year decided to induct women jawans into the Corps of Military Police (CMP) by raising one battalion (1,000 women).
As regards women officers in combat role, the IAF took the lead last year by inducting three officers in fighter flying stream and they are currently undergoing intensive training. In the Navy, at least 60 women officers are deployed on P-8 I long range maritime patrol aircraft. Some of these women serving as tactical officers are empowered to take the decision to fire a missile or torpedo and this role can be termed as combat role, they said.
There are nearly 650 women officers in the Navy and are serving their tenures in braches like education, law and naval construction as engineers besides flying Dornier aircraft. Overall, there are 3,500 women officers in the three Services.
The Army has, so far, refrained from inducting women in combat role and fighting units like infantry, artillery and armoured corps. However, women officers are serving in Intelligence, Judge and Advocate General (JAG) branch, Engineers, Ordnance and Education.
Meanwhile, giving details about other issues discussed in the Navy Commanders’ meet, sources said the Defence Minister instructed that future conferences of three Services should also have representation from Integrated Defence Staff. This came in the background of the three Services now operating together as tri-service command in Andaman and Nicobar Command. The integration came about following the recommendations of the K Subrahmanyam Committee report on overhauling defence management in the wake of the Kargil war in 1999.
Sources also said more than Rs 17,000 crores worth of contracts for capital acquisition like missiles and ships for the Navy were signed in the last six months. Moreover, the approval in principle was also given for induction 1,100 persons as additional manpower, they said. Also, the Navy will host the tenth anniversary of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) for two days from November 13 at Kochi. India had taken the initiative in forming this group of countries located on the rim of the Indian Ocean which is strategically important for our country.
