Women and Security Forces
Recent Developments and Case Study
- Kolkata gets all-women police squad — to make public space safer for women in the State Capital.
- PM announced from Red Fort I-Day — permanent commission for all the women officers at par with their male counterparts.
- As of now, women are recruited from Short-Service Commission (SSC) for maximum 14 years
- They are deprived of pension (because of less number of years in service)
Army to break a glass ceiling
- The army is holding consultations for preparing a plan to grant permanent commission to women in its ranks as it become the last military arm to give up resistance to women serving until their age of retirement.
- As of now, women can only join army as Short Service Commission (SSC) officers — 14 years at max service years — retirement without a pension in mid-30s
- The Airforce and Navy started recruiting women to permanent commission since 2010. As of now, almost 350 women serve both the forces.
- Key issues —
- Practical challenges in deploying women in active areas like Kashmir
- Logistics requirements to accommodate them in areas that have been built exclusively for men.
Issues and steps taken so far:
Recruitment numbers:
- Due to the focus of government on women’s empowerment, the three services have taken some steps for expanding the avenues for women.
- But still recruitment numbers of the past few years are almost at the same level with a decline in women joining the Army.
Combat role:
- According to the former Defence Minister, the three services would induct women in combat roles in a phased manner as infrastructure had to be created.
- The Indian Air Force (IAF) has long had women pilots in transport and helicopters streams.
- Last year IAF has commissioned three women fighter pilots on an experimental basis.
- The Army has been the most reluctant to take women in combat roles.
Permanent Commission:
- The Army has given permanent commission for women only in education, law and medical streams.
- From 2009, the Navy has opened up seven streams for women for permanent commission.
- Some of these include law, logistics, air traffic control, education and Naval Armament Instructor (which was only opened this year).
Pension:
- The Navy is now taking women as pilots and observers on fixed-wing aircraft.
- This is the Short Service Commission (SSC) because they cannot be promoted as they cannot do sea service. The women officers are taken under SSC up to 14 years.
- Therefore, the women are left without any pension as for pension, minimum service should be 20 years. (CHANGED!!)
Training:
- The training imparted to women at the Air Force Academy in Dindigul is not recognised at par with the civil course at the Civil Aviation Training College, Allahabad.
- So, it is difficult for women to get a second career based on it.