Parrikar: Combat role for women in Army, Navy soon; NDA, Sainik schools too may open doors

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 4

Days after first women pilots were inducted for a combat role in the Indian Air Force (IAF), Defence Minister Manohar Parikar today said the government was looking for a greater role for women in combat, thereby, once again opening up the debate on the “pros and cons” of allowing women at the frontline.Parrikar mooted the idea of raising an all-women battalion and stationing women on warships. He said the “psychological barrier” had been broken with the induction of female fighter pilots. Three women were inducted into the fighter pilot stream of the IAF on June 18.The Defence Minister was speaking at a function organised by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Ladies Organisation on changing roles and opportunities of women in the defence sector. “Why can’t we have an all-women battalion if there is resistance among male soldiers over being led by female commanders,” he said.The only restriction today is infrastructure, Parrikar said, adding that induction of women through the National Defence Academy (NDA) and allowing girl students in Sainik schools can also be considered.Within the Army, the only question is a situation when a woman soldier is captured by the enemy. It could lead to furore on the political front.If the Army and the Navy are opened up for combat roles for women, India will join the US, Israel and Norway to have such a system.Parrikar said sometime in future he would sit with the chiefs of the three forces. “I don’t understand why we can’t place women on warships. At this stage, I will not support a submarine operation because submarines are designed for unigender or one area for staff. There are no separate areas for women. But warships can be modified and new ships can be designed to have facilities for women,” he said, adding that there was also a question of taking women officers through NDA.He said there were demands from across the country for Sainik schools to have girl students. “This cannot be done in disjoined manner otherwise girls will get into Sainik schools but will not get entry, all these aspects are being looked into,” he said.Speaking about the opportunities for women in the defence sector, Parrikar said low-end clothing line such as uniform for NCC cadets could be one area where women entrepreneurs can look for possible business prospects. He urged FICCI ladies organisation to come forward with a list of business propositions where they can partner with the defence sector and promote women entrepreneurs.In her welcome address, Vinita Bimbhet, president of FICCI Ladies Organisation, emphasised the crucial aspects of entrepreneurial role of women in the defence sector, which needed to be boosted to achieve the goal of inclusive growth.

WOMEN IN COMBAT ROLES SOON?

Defence minister Parrikar reignites debate on allowing women on the front line, says they could serve onboard warships in the future but not submarines NEW DELHI: Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday floated the idea of allowing women in ground combat roles, reigniting the debate on whether they should be allowed to serve in the front line.

Speaking at a function organised by FICCI Ladies Organisation on the changing role of women in the defence sector, Parrikar asked why the army couldn’t have an “all-women battalion” if there was resistance among male soldiers to being led by female commanders. He said the decision to open up the fighter stream in the Indian Air Force to women about eight months ago had knocked down the “first psychological barrier” in the military to induct them in combat positions.

But the move met with resistance in the defence ministry. Parrikar said the file took four months to reach him as there were “many males” in the ministry, and he had to send several reminders to get the file moving. Three women are currently training to become India’s first combat pilots.

He said women could even serve aboard warships in the future, but not in submarines because they do not have separate areas to accommodate mixed gender crews. “There’s a thinking (in the military) that soldiers won’t listen to female commanders. I don’t agree with that. The sole restriction today is that of infrastructure,” said Parrikar

Parrikar said steps were being taken to induct women in Sainik Schools and — subsequently — the National Defence Academy.

Only a few countries — including Australia, Norway and the United States — allow women in all-combat capacities such as flying fighter jets, serving in infantry units and performing duties aboard warships and submarines.

The Indian army has had reservations about inducting women in close combat duties — most centering around physical contact with the enemy, lack of women-friendly infrastructure in forward areas, and physiological and cultural barriers.

Parrikar said while the government was considering opening up the fighter stream to women, some expressed fears over female combat pilots being shot down in enemy territory and taken prisoner. But such a possibility would be eliminated if they were assigned air defence missions in Indian airspace, he added. Parrikar knows that allowing women in front-line combat would require building a consensus and overcoming internal resistance. But he assured that gender parity in defence would be achieved smoothly.