The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) that secures the frontier along China has plans to double its women contingent from the present 500 to 1,000 for deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)  in Ladakh and Northeast.

 The move comes amid a standoff between India and China in eastern Ladakh since May last year. However, under the disengagement process that began on February 10, both the countries’ troops have moved back from their positions at the Pangong Tso Lake’s northern and southern banks.

In a first, the ITBP had in 2019 raised a women contingent comprising 500 troops of ITBP, breaking the proverbial glass ceiling and traditionally a male forte of deployment at high-altitude border posts along the Indo-China border with treacherous sub-zero temperatures and difficulties of survival in cold desert. The Contingent was subjected to rigorous 44 weeks of training in battle craft and mountain survival. Like their male counterparts, the women combatants had undergone grueling drills and learnt to handle weapons, read maps, gather intelligence and were trained in commando tactics, official had then said.

Earlier, women in the paramilitary force were deployed for maintaining law and order and VIP duties and were also posted at the cantonments and hospitals.

The total number of women troops in ITBP was 2,000, mostly constables, head-constables, sub-inspectors and inspectors posted at various places.

“We are now also planning to recruit women officers in ITBP in supervisory and combat roles. A proposal for recruitment of officers in the rank of commandants and assistant commandants has been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs,” said an ITBP official.

 As the first line of defence, the ITBP secures the 3,488km border with China that passes through the five states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

The 90,000-strong ITBP was raised on October 24, 1962, exclusively securing the Chinese frontier after the Indo- China war.