Through the years the Indian Armed Force has remarkable progress with regard to the recruitment of women. According to the survey done by Press Information Bureau in February 2021, the Indian Armed Force encompasses 6807 women, 0.56 per cent in the Indian Army, 1607, 1.08 per cent in the Indian Air Force, and 704, 6.5 per cent in the Indian Navy. But income to developed countries like USA, UK, Canada and Germany, we still have a long way to go. In America, according to the council on foreign relations 16 per cent of enlisted force and 19 per cent of officer corps consist of women, whereas in Israel, even though women are not given combat roles they have entitled administrative and technological posts (Maj Gen Mrinal Suman, Indian defence review 25.1, 2015)
Women in the Indian Armed Forces
Women were introduced into the Armed forced back in the 1880s as the Indian Military Nursing Service (MNS). The British Indian nurses fought in World War I (1914-18) and world War II (1934-45). During that time approximately 350 nurses were declared dead, missing or were taken as prisoners of war(Hindustan Times, 13 December 2017). An exclusive women’s regiment was formed, under the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian Army, called the Rani of Jhansi Regiment(1942). They were seen fighting the imperial Japanese army during World War II.
In 1942 the first women medical officer was commissioned into the Indian medical service. The women’s auxiliary corps (WAC-1) was also formed, Having the same rank and status as all other armed personnel. The naval wing of the women auxiliary corps was established in the same year and renamed the Women’s Royal Indian Naval Service (WRINS) in 1945. But in 1947 both the WAC(1) and the WRINS were disbanded.
In February 2021 a threefold increase was seen in women personnel in the armed forces in the last six years. Excluding the medical wing where women have been serving for several years, the government has made many amendments to empower women in the forces. This includes recruitment of fighter pilots, naval aircraft pilots and giving women permanent Commission in different branches. In 2016, India’s first Naval women pilots of maritime reconnaissance Aircraft were commissioned. In 2021 the approval for induction of 1700 women as Jawans in the military police was granted. The progress from the time when women weren’t allowed in any infantry or combat units to 70 per cent of women being considered for permanent Commission is indeed inspiring. Women are now given a commission in Armed Air Defense (AAD), Signals, engineers, armed aviation, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), Armed Service Corps(ASC), Army Ordnance Corps (AOC) and Intelligence Corps.
To date, there have been five women who were promoted to three-star ranks. Two of them who are still serving are surgeon Vice Admiral Sheila S. Mathai NM, VSM and lieutenant General Rajashree Ramasethu.
These women who carry the sky with stars on their shoulders too have to face some major issues. Some of these, as told by officers in the Military Nursing Service are:-
- Sexual harassment Almost all the women in the forces have had to deal with Sexual harassment. Unacceptable behaviours of male counterparts are seen as friendly or casual and the officials often dismiss complaints against them as frivolous and resort to the “boys will be boys” apology.
- Low acceptance Even though we have seen impressive progress regarding the recruitment of women, there’s still a long way to go. Attaining gender equality is not an easy task and will take time and a lot of effort from people in power. Having a gender fluid and merit-based selection process is a hope we all have for the future.
- Respect In 2003, Army officers gave orders to other ranks and junior officers not to salute MNS officers and in 2004, their uniform was changed to a beige coloured one. Today a Jawan will refuse to salute a general of MNS.
- Multifaceted roles Regardless of having stars on their shoulders, women are still expected to fulfil their duties in the family as a mother, a wife, a daughter and a daughter-in-law. This can be gruelling for many women and they end up having to compromise in one or more aspects of their life.
Despite these issues, the gratification from serving the nation outweighs all cons. The respect earned is truly a long-lasting feeling. It’s a well-paid job with high status, job security and facilities for self and family-like free medical facilities, leave travel concession, accommodation, ration etc. Though discrimination is a challenge an officer will always be an officer, regardless of gender.
As an Indian, I’m proud of how far my country has come and I look forward to seeing it develop and prosper further. The future ahead is bright and I hope to see the day when officers will command positions irrespective of their gender and only on the basis of their capability and calibre.
- https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1696144
- https://wsimag.com/economy-and-politics/66942-women-in-indian-armed-forces-she-is-unique
- https://m.economictimes.com/news/defence/over-9100-women-officers-serving-in-armed-forces-1700-females-to-join-as-jawans-in-army-defence-ministry/articleshow/80753218.cms?from=mdr
- https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/indian-army-must-stop-its-discrimination-against-military-nurses/story-VmhPT6cKj3GW3M3KjCterK.html
- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_the_Indian_Armed_Forces
- http://www.indiandefencereview.com/interviews/women-in-the-armed-forces/
Written by: Ms Vaishnavi, M, BA (Hons) Applied psychology, Department of Applied Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Science (FBSS), Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (MRIIRS), Faridabad.
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