Need a more push for women in Indian Army! MoS Defence confirms of inducting 364 women officers in 2019

New Delhi, March 03: The Indian Army inducted 364 women officers in 2019, as compared to 819 in 2018 as confirmed by Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik in the upper house of the parliament. Naik stated that the Indian Air Force had inducted 51 women officers in 2019, as compared to that of 59 in 2018. "The Air Force figure does not include women officers in medical and dental branches", he said.

 

 

The minister further said 54 women officers were inducted in the Indian Navy in 2019, as compared to 38 in the previous year. "The number and percentage of women officers in the Indian Navy (except Medical, Dental and Military Nursing Service branch) is 527 (5.12 per cent). The corresponding figure in respect of Indian Air Forces is 1,601 (13.81 per cent)," Naik added.

 

It has been a long time in the making. But, more than half a millennium after the execution of India’s own Rani of Jhansi leading troops into a battle for freedom, the Supreme Court ruled that there were no valid reasons for the Indian Army to keep its positions of command out of female reach. The top court’s last week's order extends a 2010 ruling of the Delhi high court that asked for permanent appointments of women in the Indian Army and Indian Air Force. Many were appointed after that, but typically not in combat units. They did not get leadership responsibilities that could have seen them ascend the hierarchy of power.

 

The qualms that men in the army are said to have about women commanders can surely be overcome. What cannot be cast aside under any circumstance is the right of every woman to pursue a career of her choice and reach the top. Equality is a constitutional guarantee. And, as army chief General M.M. Naravane recently declared, the armed forces owe their allegiance to the Constitution.