It’s a Diwali gift that finally promises parity in the armed forces. Defence minister Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal that entitles women soldiers, sailors and air warriors to the same leave terms as female officers in the three services. This covers maternity, childcare and child adoption leaves.
As women’s participation has increased in all security forces, including the police and paramilitary, the Modi government has been keeping pace with ensuring their all-round welfare. The MoD statement says, “The extension of leave rules will go a long way in dealing with women-specific family and social issues relevant to the armed forces. This measure is going to improve the work conditions of women in the military and aid them to balance the spheres of professional and family life in a better manner.”
Women officers are entitled to get maternity leave of 180 days with full pay for each child, subject to a maximum of two children. Childcare leave of 360 days is granted in total service career (subject to the child being less than 18 years of age). Similarly, women who adopt a child below one year of age are entitled to 180 leaves.
But uniformity in leaves had remained an issue as the services started inducting more and more women across ranks below officer (PBOR) cadre for the first time under the Agnipath scheme. While the navy has already begun recruiting women under the scheme, the air force and the army are preparing to do so as well. Now that all women soldiers are entitled to the same set of leave policies, more women are likely to find incentive in joining the armed forces and helping make India secure.
This decision adds to a series of similar decisions taken by the Centre to make the armed forces more inclusive and welcoming for women soldiers.
Empowering Women in the Indian Armed Forces: Progress Since 2014
Nari Shakti had dominated the 74th Republic Day parade this year as women officers led the marching contingents of the armed forces, CRPF, Akash missile system and Army’s Daredevil team. Additionally, the Modi government has opened the doors of the National Defence Academy to recruit women.
557 women officers have received permanent commission in the Army, after the Centre in 2018 decided to allow women officers in India’s armed forces to take up permanent commission after a Short Service Commission stint. Five women officers have been promoted to the rank of colonel, usually a rank that very few SSC officers achieve during their limited-service period.
For the first time, 83 women jawans were appointed to the Military Police Corps of the Army. India also saw Captain Abhilasha Barak becoming the first Indian woman combat aviator in history. Front-line combat roles had been off limits for women until the Modi government disrupted that status quo back in 2015. In April this year, the Modi government also approved the Indian Army’s decision to induct women officers in the Regiment of Artillery.
A host of other measures have been introduced across all three branches of service to bring parity in service conditions and opportunities. Here is a brief overview.
• Indian Army: Women are being encouraged to join the force by offering permanent commissions and entry into the NDA. Indian Army has also opened avenues for women officers to serve as pilots in Army Aviation Corps since 2021. Women Officers are now being given command appointments, once exclusively dominated by men. Currently, over 7000 women are serving in the Indian Army.
• Indian Air Force: By September 2020, there were 1,875 female officers in various roles, including combat and support. In 2015, combat roles for women as fighter pilots were opened and in May 2019, Bhawana Kanth became the first woman fighter pilot qualified for combat missions. In September this year, the Air Chief had announced that all branches of IAF now have women officers, making it a ‘gender agnostic’ force. IAF has also been modernising facilities to accommodate a growing number of women personnel, and has launched DISHA cells to encourage more women to join its ranks.
• Indian Navy: Indian Navy has crucially decided to grant ship duties to women specialist Naval Air Operations officers. Women officers are also now being actively inducted as pilots of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). More women officers are getting deputed on overseas assignments as part of Mobile Training Teams and other foreign cooperation engagements.
Many women officers are themselves admitting there is a marked difference in how women feel about joining the armed forces now. Lack of gender equality in the armed forces is slowly being mitigated. Recent deputations to tough posts like Siachen and combat aviation show women soldiers are no less than men when it comes to keeping India secure.
Comments
0 comment