The Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is pitching for an all-women battalion, “now that the psychological barrier has been broken with the induction of female fighter pilots. The minister has hinted at a strategic shift to induct more women in the armed forces which is overwhelmingly dominated by men. The sight of uniformed women marching down Rajpath on Republic Day might make the minister and the government swell with pride. But is hides the real truth “ women are leaving the armed forces before completing the 14 year mandatory period. There are several issues concerning women, who claim that they have to prove their mettle at every juncture and this is a frustrating exercise. Equal treatment is an issue and so is the idea of women leading men into battle. If the government is serious, then it ought to draft a plan with a timeline for induction of women. It might be easier to start with induction of women into non-combat roles and then extending it to combat duties. It is a slow process and Parrikar is on the right track. But without a plan, nothing meaningful will happen.
