Almost 80 ladies officers within the Army have been cleared thus far for the rank of Colonel (choice grade), making them eligible to command items of their respective arms and companies for the primary time, The Indian Categorical has learnt.
The Ladies Officers Particular No. 3 Choice Board proceedings, which started January 9, are at the moment underway at Army headquarters for promotion from the rank of Lt Colonel to Colonel to convey them on a par with their male counterparts.
As many as 244 ladies officers are being thought of for promotion towards 108 vacancies – from the batch of 1992 to 2006 – in numerous arms and companies, together with Engineers, Indicators, Army Air Defence, Intelligence Corps, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps and Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
Defence sources informed The Indian Categorical that of all of the arms and companies, the Corps of Engineers has the utmost emptiness at 28 for which 65 ladies are being thought of, adopted by the Army Ordnance Corps and Electrical and Mechanical Engineering which have 19 and 21 vacancies every, and 47 ladies officers are being thought of for the rank of Colonel in every of them.
Seven ladies officers are being thought of for promotion towards three vacancies within the Army Air Defence and 7 ladies officers are being assessed for promotion towards 5 vacancies within the Intelligence Corps, the sources stated. For the Army Service Corps and the Corps of Indicators, 29 and 42 ladies officers are being assessed for promotion towards 14 and 18 vacancies, respectively.
A senior lady officer stated she is grateful that whereas the event got here late, it did come lastly.
“It’s heartening to see that our sheer laborious work and persistence paid off, regardless of being late. It’s a day most have been lengthy ready for,” the officer stated.
In a uncommon occasion, the promotion board is being held daily for a specific batch, beginning with the 1992 batch, and the outcomes are being declared instantly, an Army officer stated, including that every officer will get three probabilities for promotion.
“As an example, if a 1995 batch officer didn’t make it on the primary day, she can be assessed once more the following day and the day after with different batches for promotion,” the officer stated.
Defence sources stated a complete of 60 affected ladies officers have been known as as observers for the choice board, to make sure truthful conduct and make clear apprehensions, if any.
“On the end result of the choice board, the 108 ladies officers declared match can be into consideration for numerous command assignments. The primary set of such postings can be issued by the tip of January,” sources stated.
“With an goal to offer equal alternatives to ladies, the Indian Army has granted Everlasting Fee (PC) to ladies officers on a par with their male counterparts,” a supply stated, including that with the grant of PC, ladies officers are making ready to imagine difficult management roles, akin to their male counterparts with larger ranks and duty.
At current, all ladies officers granted PC are present process particular coaching programs and difficult army assignments to empower them for larger management roles within the Army, and PC to ladies officers in junior batches has additionally began – they’re thought of for PC of their tenth yr of service.
Just lately, for the primary time, 5 ladies officers cleared the celebrated Defence Companies Employees Course (DSSC) and Defence Companies Technical Employees Course (DSTSC) exams, held yearly in September. They may endure a year-long course which can have weightage whereas being thought of for command appointments.
Whereas ladies are nonetheless not eligible for pure fight arms similar to Infantry, Mechanised Infantry and Armoured Corps, the Army just lately determined to induct ladies into the Corps of Artillery, a fight help arm. The proposal is at the moment awaiting authorities approval.
Ladies officers are already a part of numerous aviation items. The Army earlier opened its soldier ranks to ladies within the Corps of Navy Police.
