No women officers in paramilitary forces

NEW DEHLI: The Indian government has ruled out any women officers post for select paramilitary forces even as a significant number of women were recently recruited in lower ranks of some of the border guarding forces.

The new notification issued by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which recruits entry-level officers for Central police forces will make it impossible for any woman  officer to head the almost 2,000 young women personnel in the combat ranks of three of the border guarding forces, a wire news agency Press Trust of India reported.

The UPSC has notified that women applicants for entry-level officer posts are ineligible for border guarding forces of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Border Security Force (BSF).

The forces had recruited women constables in their ranks with huge fanfare and Home Minister P Chidamabaram had commissioned the maiden women batches for ITBP and BSF.

However, not many are happy with the new rule. “Although male commanders in the ranks of Assistant Commandants, Deputy Commandants and Commandants are commanding these women units well, a women commander will surely boost their morale,” a senior Home Ministry officer said.  The notification for this year’s exam should have addressed the issue, the officer added.

“It would be good to have a woman officer commanding our units. She may understand us better,” a woman ITBP constable said.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2010.