No proposal to induct women in combat duties: Antony

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There is no proposal to induct women in combat duties in the defence forces including as fighter pilots in the IAF, government told the Lok Sabha on Monday.

"Induction of women in combat duties has not been recommended by studies carried out by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) in 2006 and High Level Tri-Service Committee in 2011," Defence Minister A.K. Antony told the House in written reply.

He was replying to a question on whether there was any proposal to recruit women pilots for fighter aircraft and other combat duties.

On increasing strength of women in the services, he said, "Recruitment of officers including women officers is an ongoing process. There is no separate fixed sanctioned strength for recruitment of women officers in forces and they are recruited within overall authorised strength of officers in respective services."

On policy for granting Permanent Commission to Short Service Commission women officers, the Defence Minister said they were eligible to join the Judge Advocate General, the Army Education Corps and their corresponding branches in the Navy and the Air Force, as naval constructor in the Navy and in the accounts branch in the IAF.

"In the Air Force, women will be eligible alongwith men Short Service Officers for consideration for grant of Permanent Commission in technical, administration, logistics and meteorology branches," he said.

Antony said that the government was sensitive to the issue of granting Permanent Commission to women officers in more non-combat streams and a matter regarding this was before the Supreme Court.