For the first time, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which is deployed along the tough, mountainous terrains along the India-China frontier, will use its women personnel in combat roles.
ITBP Director General Krishna Chaudhary today said 512 women constables of the general duty (GD) cadre or the fighting arm were being trained to be deployed at border outposts (BOPs) across the frontier, at altitudes reaching more than 18,000 feet from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
They will reach their new postings by the next summer. The ITBP will also ensure at least half the strength of BOPs comprised women personnel.
“It will be odd if for example, two women constables are sent to a BOP where there are 40 men,” said an ITBP officer. Facilities such as toilets for the women personnel will also be constructed at the BOPs, where they will be deployed.
The ITBP is also in talks with the Union Public Service Commission to start recruiting women officers in the GD cadre starting from the rank of Assistant Commandant, the DG said. This will allow women officers to command their own units comprising 1,000 personnel.
“When we recruited women constables there were a lot of reservations among senior force commanders about how effective and comfortable they will be. But I have ensured that women personnel are going to be deployed shoulder to shoulder with men,” he said.
ITBP Director General Krishna Chaudhary today said 512 women constables of the general duty (GD) cadre or the fighting arm were being trained to be deployed at border outposts (BOPs) across the frontier, at altitudes reaching more than 18,000 feet from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
They will reach their new postings by the next summer. The ITBP will also ensure at least half the strength of BOPs comprised women personnel.
“It will be odd if for example, two women constables are sent to a BOP where there are 40 men,” said an ITBP officer. Facilities such as toilets for the women personnel will also be constructed at the BOPs, where they will be deployed.
The ITBP is also in talks with the Union Public Service Commission to start recruiting women officers in the GD cadre starting from the rank of Assistant Commandant, the DG said. This will allow women officers to command their own units comprising 1,000 personnel.
“When we recruited women constables there were a lot of reservations among senior force commanders about how effective and comfortable they will be. But I have ensured that women personnel are going to be deployed shoulder to shoulder with men,” he said.
