A career in the armed forces is turning to be an attractive choice for women as the number of serving officers has increased in the last four years and the Government is taking steps to encourage more to join the services. Moreover, women officers are now eligible for permanent commission in some branches, while other women officers retire after 14 years of service.
The comparative figures of induction of women officers in the Army, IAF and Navy have seen gradual increase with 1,436 officers now (till March 1) on the rolls of Army this year as compared to 1,344 in 2014, 1,253 in 2103 and 1,151 in 2012. Similarly, in the Navy, this figure has seen a jump with 385 officers inducted in 2012, 411 in 2013, 445 in 2014 and 525 this year. The same trend was witnessed in the IAF with 1,331 officers inducted this year, 1,265 last year, 1,174 in 2013 and 1,083 in 2012.
However, these officers in the all three Services are not deployed for combat operations and on naval warships besides flying fighter jets. Giving the increasing number of women officers in the three Services, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar informed Parliament recently that induction of women personnel for combat duties was not recommended by the studies carried out by the Headquarters integrated Defence Staff in 2006 and High level Tri-Services Committee in 2011.
At present, women officers are inducted into Intelligence Units, Education Corps, Engineers, Ordnance besides flying non combat missions on helicopters and transport planes of the IAF and Navy. Women are inducted as Short Service Commission(SSC) officers along with their male counterparts with a tenure of up to 14 years. All officers, irrespective of gender are eligible to hold substantive ranks of lt. Colonel and its equivalent in IAF and Navy after completion of 13 years of service. Earlier, women officers had to retire after five years of service with rank of a Major.
Moreover, women officers are eligible for permanent commission in specific branches of three Services including Judge Advocate General(JAG) and Education Corps, Naval Constructor and Accounts, Technical, Administration, logistic and Meteorology branches in IAF.
On the deployment of women in fighting arms like infantry and artillery or serving stint on a naval warship, officials said this issue is sensitive. Elaborating upon it, they said given the social environment at present, it will take some years before women go into battle along with their male colleagues. They said public opinion has to be evolved for such a step. Incidentally, women officers serve on the frontline in the US, Israel and some other countries.
Meanwhile, Parrikar also informed the lok Sabha that only five cases of harassment and discrimination against women were reported since 2013 in the Army, nil in Navy and 17 in the IAF since 2011. The armed forces have taken steps like setting up gender sensitivity committees besides holding regular workshops on sensitization of women employees on sexual harassment at work place. The main aim of these workshops was to raise awareness on this issue and encourage women to take a stand against the harasser.