Women in the Armed Forces

Military Nursing Service
In 1994 there were 200 women in the armed forces. In the army, which employs women as physicians and nurses, the participation of women is small but growing. The Indian Military Nursing Service was formed in 1926 and has eight nursing schools (five army, two navy, and one air force) and one nursing college in Pune. Bachelor of science graduates are commissioned as lieutenants in the Medical Nursing Service and attached to the various components of the armed forces. Ranks as Brig can be attained by career officers. In the mid 1990s, a small but increasing number of women officers were being assigned to non medical services.

Inter Service Report
15 years later, Indian Army finds women officers soft since they first entered the Indian armed forces as officers on a limited tenure. The forces have now concluded that they are distinctly uncomfortable with the female presence. An inter services report has concluded that female officers don’t quite fit into the military ethos. Women stand accused of routinely seeking preferential treatment like soft postings and frequent leave.

Soft Duties
India's one million strong army has only 1,000 women officers. The government began commissioning women officers just 16 years ago, until then, women were only allowed into the army's medical corps. The first batch of 50 women officers was inducted into the force in 1992. A total of 150 officers are inducted every year and given short service commission, initially for a five-year term which can be extended up to 14 years. Women Officers are assigned to Artillery, Signals, Engineering and Intelligence but they are neither allowed in close combat duties nor to man forward posts.

Pension
Short Service Women Officers Once retired after 14 years are not entitled to a pension. Other benefits remain at par with regular ESM (retirees). Total number of retired woman officers as on date is not known but fair to assume that the numbers are insignificant.

Comments
Woman Officers ideally should command women soldiers. An all- woman Battalion or a Brigade will prove more effective in dealing with Internal Insurgency like in J&K, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland. Why is there no recruitment of women soldiers (PBOR)? Why are women discriminated?