IN what lends an impressive patina to the progressiveness of our defence forces, the Army has decided to unlock its glorious doors to allow women in the role of a jawan in select non-combat streams, like the Corps of Military Police. The Navy, too, will follow along by recruiting them in the ‘Provost’ wing and its band, hitherto a male preserve. In December, Army Chief Bipin Rawat had indicated that the forces were keen to expand the induction of women into other cadres, and take them in as cyber specialists, interpreters, and in accounts and audit services and information warfare domain.

Traditionally, women in the armed forces were confined to the medical services and auxiliary branches. It changed in 1992, when the Army made way for women officers beyond medical roles such as Judge Advocate General (legal), education and engineering wings. In 2015, the Air Force charted a fresh course by giving a leg-up to women officers from the humble helicopter cockpit to the mean fighter jet. At every stage since, the women have established their professional acumen and proved themselves worthy of the confidence placed in them. The Navy inducts women as officers into logistics, architecture, armament inspectorate and as reconnaissance pilots. Recently, the six-member all-women crew of INSV Tarini demonstrated its mettle by triumphantly circumnavigating the globe.

In step with the times, the move constitutes a welcome advance on the older order of things and negates any proclivity to assume women in inferior, less-challenging roles. While they are posted in forward areas, combat duties remain out of bounds, not because they won’t shine here too, but due to the ruthless realities of hardcore warfare. The Army, long known for its brotherhood and institutional integrity, has embraced sisterhood at its core. It is obligatory for the forces to keep high the confidence of the women, who have chosen a life less ordinary. Safe working conditions must be ensured to them, as they march together with men, as one, shoulder to shoulder, to defend the country’s borders.