Women Soldiers Get Same Benefits as Officers

New Delhi: Defence minister Rajnath Singh approved a proposal to grant maternity, child care and child adoption leaves to women soldiers, sailors and air warriors on par with their officer counterparts.

With the issuing of the rules, the grant of such leaves to all women in the military, whether she is an officer or of the other ranks, will be equally applicable. The extension of leave rules will go a long way in dealing with women-specific family and social issues relevant to the armed forces. This measure aims to improve the work conditions of women in the military and aid them to balance the spheres of professional and family life in a better manner, said the defence ministry.

At present, women officers get maternity leave of 180 days with full pay for each child, subject to a maximum of two children.

Childcare leave of 360 days is granted in total service career (subject to the child being less than 18 years of age) to women officers, according to officials.

Child adoption leave of 180 days is granted after the date of the valid adoption of a child below one year of age.

The defence ministry said that the decision is in line with the defence minister’s vision of inclusive participation of all women in the armed forces, irrespective of their ranks.

It said that furthering Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s commitment towards utilising 'nari shakti' (woman power), the three services have spearheaded a paradigm shift with inclusion of women as soldiers, sailors and air warriors.

From being operationally deployed in Siachen, the highest battlefield in the world, to being posted on warships as well as dominating the skies, Indian women are now breaking barriers in almost every field in the armed forces, it said.

In 2019, a milestone was also achieved through recruitment of women in the Indian Army as soldiers in the Corps of Military Police.