<p>The long struggle for gender justice in the armed forces has achieved another success with the army’s decision to give permanent commission to 12 women officers. They belong to the legal and education branches and till now were short service commission officers who could serve only for a maximum 14 years and could not rise above the ranks of lieutenant colonel. Those from the army medical corps are also eligible for permanent commission and so there are better prospects for career advancement for many women officers. Those who have cleared the promotion boards will soon gain their higher ranks and it has been made clear that women officers will be regularly considered for permanent commission in future. It is officers who were inducted in 1996 who have now been cleared.<br /><br />Much of the credit for a fair deal for women in the armed forces goes to the judiciary. The Delhi high court had directed the government to grant permanent commission to women officers in the medical and legal branches and the supreme court had upheld the order. The government and the defence establishment had all along opposed it as it was not possible under the 1950 Army Act. It is doubtful if the limited recognition of women’s role marks a change of attitude. The idea that women are not suitable for the services and that they would demand preferential treatment is strongly entrenched. The doors that have now been opened are only for the medical, legal and educational branches. Branches like engineering, signals and intelligence are still no-go areas. There is no reason why women should be denied their rights in these and other branches when they have proved themselves to be no less than men in any field.<br /><br />There are only less than 7,000 women officers in the armed forces when there are many women who are interested and well-equipped to join the forces. There is also a shortage of officers in all the defence forces. Among the forces, the air force, which allows women to fly transport aircraft, is better than the other two services. In many other countries women are given combat duties. They even undertake bombing missions and serve in submarines and have acquitted themselves well in all their duties. There is no reason why Indian women should lag behind them. The incremental gains being made by them now should lead to better opportunities and bigger roles in the armed forces.</p>
<p>The long struggle for gender justice in the armed forces has achieved another success with the army’s decision to give permanent commission to 12 women officers. They belong to the legal and education branches and till now were short service commission officers who could serve only for a maximum 14 years and could not rise above the ranks of lieutenant colonel. Those from the army medical corps are also eligible for permanent commission and so there are better prospects for career advancement for many women officers. Those who have cleared the promotion boards will soon gain their higher ranks and it has been made clear that women officers will be regularly considered for permanent commission in future. It is officers who were inducted in 1996 who have now been cleared.<br /><br />Much of the credit for a fair deal for women in the armed forces goes to the judiciary. The Delhi high court had directed the government to grant permanent commission to women officers in the medical and legal branches and the supreme court had upheld the order. The government and the defence establishment had all along opposed it as it was not possible under the 1950 Army Act. It is doubtful if the limited recognition of women’s role marks a change of attitude. The idea that women are not suitable for the services and that they would demand preferential treatment is strongly entrenched. The doors that have now been opened are only for the medical, legal and educational branches. Branches like engineering, signals and intelligence are still no-go areas. There is no reason why women should be denied their rights in these and other branches when they have proved themselves to be no less than men in any field.<br /><br />There are only less than 7,000 women officers in the armed forces when there are many women who are interested and well-equipped to join the forces. There is also a shortage of officers in all the defence forces. Among the forces, the air force, which allows women to fly transport aircraft, is better than the other two services. In many other countries women are given combat duties. They even undertake bombing missions and serve in submarines and have acquitted themselves well in all their duties. There is no reason why Indian women should lag behind them. The incremental gains being made by them now should lead to better opportunities and bigger roles in the armed forces.</p>
