Hyderabad: In a first, Army to recruit women as jawans

Hyderabad: In a historic first, the Indian Army will be recruiting women as soldiers in the Military Police. The Army on Thursday made a formal announcement through an advertisement asking women to join the Military Police.

In January, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced that the Army would induct women as jawans in the Military Police. She said that eventually women would comprise 20 per cent of the Corps of Military Police. Two years ago, Army chief General Bipin Rawat had announced that women would be inducted into the Army as soldiers.

Their role will range from probing crime cases to assisting the Army in field operations. Women will join as ‘Soldier General Duty’. Online registration will start on April 26 and end on June 8.

Reacting to the development, military historian Mandeep Singh Bajwa said, “It is a non-combat role though it is not an administrative job. It is an experimental measure.”

The Army has recruited women in medical, clerical, educational and administrative wings. This is the first time women are joining as jawans.

According to government data, 3.8 per cent of the workforce comprises women. There could be more good news for women. Gen. Rawat has also said, “The Army is in the process of identifying issues that could be faced in inducting women in combat roles and opening more avenues for them.”