The government,on Monday, ruled out induction of women into combat duties in the defence forces as of now but said the streams for women officers are being expanded continuously.
"At present, there is no proposal to induct women into combat duties in the defence forces including that of fighter pilots in Indian Air Force," Defence Minister A K Antony said in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour. He, however, said that in course of time, they (women) will be able to join combat duties. "I agree that they are brave women... and gradually they be able to join combat areas also."
The minister was replying to a supplementary by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj who had asked whether the government would raise special women batallions with women as officers. "A study carried out by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff in 2006 on all aspects of employment of women officers in the armed forces recommended exclusion of women officers from close combat roles," Antony said. "...But this is not final. We are committed. We are sincere and I am sure in course of time they will be able to join combat duties. Gradually we are moving towards that," he said. In the last three years only 398 women officers were recruited in 2007, 399 in 2008 and 432 (half year) in 2009, the minister said.
Manish Tiwari (Cong) raised concern over low percentage of women employees in the armed forces and asked whether this was due to ineligibility of women. To this, Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju said, "Most of the women are meeting the benchmarks. It is only because streams are limited and we are making efforts to expand them from time to time." He said there was no discrimination against women in the induction process. This government has started taking women in the permanent commission through Short Service Commission (SSC) and the streams are further expanding.
Replying to another supplementary, Raju said there was no sanctioned strength of women officers but they are selected as per eligibility.
