In yet another attempt to bring gender parity in the defence services, the Indian Army has decided to conduct women officers Special Selection Board to promote them from the rank of Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel.
The step is being taken to bring the women officers at par with their male counterparts, ANI reported citing Indian Army officials.
The officials added that the entire process will be done January 9- 22, 2023.
A total of 244 women officers are being considered for promotion against 108 vacancies, from the 1992 batch to the 2006 batch in various Arms and Services (Engineers, Signals, Army Air Defence, Intelligence Corps, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps & Electrical & Mechanical Engineers), ANI reported citing Indian Army.
The vacancies for this Special No 3 Selection Board have been released by the government to promote the women officers, to ensure gender parity in Indian Army.
The report added that a total of 60 affected women officers have been called as observers for the Selection Board, to ensure fair conduct and clarify their apprehensions, if any.
On the culmination of the selection board, the 108 women officers who are declared FIT, are under consideration to be posted on various command assignments. The first set of such postings will be issued by the end of January 2023, stated Indian Army officials.
The Indian Army has granted Permanent Commission to women officers at par with their male counterparts with an aim to provide equal opportunities to women,
Army officials said that all women officers granted permanent commission are undergoing special training courses and challenging military assignments to empower them for higher leadership roles in the Indian Army.
Permanent Commission to Women Officers in junior batches has also commenced, in which they are considered for PC in their 10th year of service, informed Indian Army officials, quoted ANI.
For the first time, five Women Officers (WOs) have cleared the prestigious Defence Services Staff Course (DSSC) and Defence Services Technical Staff Course (DSTSC) Exam, which is held annually in the month of September. The five WOs will undergo a one-year course and give them adequate weightage while being considered for command appointments, the report further said.
The officials said, "The Indian Army is the first among the three Services to open its soldier ranks to women in the Corps of Military Police and our Women Military Police soldiers have made both the organisation and the country proud by performing their duties in the most professional and proficient manner."
"In another initiative to promote ‘Nari Shakti’, we have so far recruited six meritorious sportswomen into the Corps of Military Police under our Mission Olympic Programme," the officials added.
"We have considerably stepped up the role of our women soldiers in various UN Peacekeeping missions. In consonance with the United Nations' Gender Parity drive, we recently deployed an Enhanced Female Engagement Team comprising two Officers and 25 Women Soldiers to the strive in Abeyi region of Africa to provide relief and assistance to women and children in one of the most challenging operational and terrain conditions under the UN flag," said officials.