Women in Forces, IAF to induct women as Garud Commando: A brief on reel and real-situation

The struggle for women has not just been in corporate but also in government jobs especially in Indian Armed Forces. The women have pushed their way out to make a place in forces. Whether it is administrative or front-related corps, women officers are still struggling.

The improvement is way more than the previous years, because women have been inducted as fighter pilots, or even recently in Military police and Agniveer scheme. Just yesterday there was an official announcement regarding Indian Air Force has allowed women officers to join its special forces unit, the Garud commando force, to promote gender equality within its ranks. Ofoucrse, after the rigorous selection process and eligibility. 

The option of volunteering to become Marcos will be open to women officers, and sailors who are currently undergoing training at INS Chilka in Odisha and will join the navy as Agniveers next year. The air force will begin inducting women in the personnel below officer rank (PBOR) cadre under the Agnipath model next year onwards though the recruitment process has already started.

The Indian Navy has also opened the doors of its elite special forces to women, a development that will allow them to serve as marine commandos (Marcos) provided they make the cut for selection. Although, countries like USA have already started inducted women as Navy Commandos.

There have been attempts to showcase women in forces, special forces , but when its practicality should be tested, the actions are been taken right now. The final induction process is still been tested. For example, movie Gunjan Saxena on the first female pilot of Indian Airforce, or even Balaji Telefilms series ‘The Test Case’ where the veteran actor faces the male stereotypes at personal front as well as the professional front. She has to go thrtough rigourous training with her male batchmates regardless of her gender.

The Indian Army academy in Chennai, Officer Training Academy trains officers which include both the genders. The training is for Short Service Commission, but the training for all the trainees is equal.

There are women who have made their mark in the Indian Armed Forces like women fighter pilots Flight lieutenant Bhawana Kanth along with Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh, were inducted into the IAF as the first women fighter pilots in 2016.

Along with this, Indian Navy as well had sent their women officers for a circumnavigation assignement, where six officers circunavigated the world in INSV Tarini, project named Navika Sagar Parikrama. The Indian citizens had appluaded their achievement and many parents were motivated to send their daughters.

Even after the development in Indian Armed Forces, there is still room for improvement, including the seats for the vacancy of women officers. The ratio gap is very wide and needs to be addressed, because officers should be inducted on the basis of their capability and their wit and not on the basis of the gender.