Things are finally beginning to look up for women in the armed forces. Recently, the air force announced that they would be training women in combat as fighter pilots. In an announcement, on Sunday, defense minister Mohar Parrikar said that women officers will also be inducted into counter-terrorism operations.
The idea for this, he said, came from the rebels and naxals, who include women fighters and have proven to be equally combative as fighters.
“The decision will be implemented in a phased manner. It cannot happen overnight. We have to overcome some training and infrastructure issues. It may take years, but work has begun in the direction,” Parrikar said, in conversation with journalist Gaurav Sawant at a fundraiser event in Goa. “He said that women will be used for combat patrolling and other such duties in the air force as the ministry is aware that a woman officer can be captured by the enemy forces and ‘manhandled to exert psychological pressure on the country.”
So far women were kept away from combat positions. The navy still does not permit women to serve on-board warships while in the army, they cannot join the infantry, armoured corps or artillery. Even the IAF had regulations restricting women on board as fighter jets. But recently there has been a change in this mindset.
Part of the credit is being given to a court ruling after women officers won legal battles for permanent commission in the armed forces. Also technological advancements in battlecraft have made physical toughness redundant in combat roles, giving women better grounds to push their case.
Image Courtesy: BCCL
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