NEW DELHI: Pitching for greater role of women in the armed forces, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today mooted the idea of raising an all women battalion and stationing of women on warships as the “psychological barrier” has been broken with the induction of female fighter pilots.
Parrikar said induction of women through the National Defence Academy and allowing girl students in Sainik schools can also be considered.
He said that even though India is a country of Jhansi ki Rani and Durga, women have been made to stay away due to various reasons.
“When I became the Defence Minister, I thought that we need to do a strategic move,” he said noting that normally armed forces are male dominated.
If the Army and the Navy are opened up for combat roles for women, India will join the small club of countries in the world, including US, Israel, to have such a system.
“There is a thinking that soldiers will not listen to a Commanding Officer who is a lady because they are not trained to do that. I don’t agree with this as the only restriction today is infrastructure,” he said speaking at a seminar organised by FICCI FLO, the women wing of the industry chamber.
“In combat roles also there can be women. Why not have a complete women team, battalion of women. So the question of women officers leading a men’s team, if there is question of initial resistance to it, can also be taken care of,” he said.(Agencies)
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