Indian Army Open To Recruiting Women In Combat Role: Gen Rawat

Women will break the Indian military’s glass ceiling by taking up combat roles, if Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat has his way. Gen Rawat said: “I am looking at women coming as jawans. I am going to start it soon. Firstly, we will start with women as military police jawans.”

Currently women work in departments such as medical, legal, educational, signals and engineering wings of the Army, but faced restrictions on combat roles due to operational concerns and logistical issues. The Army Chief said the matter is being taken up with the government. “We have already started the process,” General Rawat said. He said women will have to show grit and strength in taking up challenges in combat role and shattering the glass ceiling.

In a revolutionary move, the Indian Air Force, last year, had inducted three women as fighter pilots, less than a year after the government decided to open the fighter stream for women on an experimental basis. The Indian Navy is currently deliberating on a policy on having women onboard the ships.

Very few countries including Germany, Australia, Canada, the US, Britain, Denmark, Finland, France , Norway, Sweden and Israel have allowed women in combat roles.