Manohar Parrikar talks of all-women units, reignites combat role debate

NEW DELHI: Reigniting the debate on the role of women in combat duties, defence minister Manohar Parrikar has mooted the die of raising all women battalions in the army and has indicated that warships could shortly see women officers on board during missions.

In the strongest endorsement yet from the political setup on more involvement of women in the armed forces, Parrikar said that if there is resistance on women leading all men units into combat, the idea of an all women battalion could be looked into.

“In combat roles also there can be women. Why not have a complete women team, battalion of women. So the question of women officers leading a men’s team, if there is question of initial resistance to it, can also be taken care of,” the minister said at a FICCI event in the capital.

Acknowledging that the idea of women officers leading combat teams is a touchy subject within the armed forces, Parrikar said that despite his instructions, it took nearly four months for the forces to prepare a report on the subject. A meeting with the chiefs of the three armed forces is now expected to take place shortly to take action.

The minister also indicated that women officers could soon serve onboard warships as well but said that deployment on submarines could be an issue due to logistical concerns. “I don’t understand why we can’t place women on ships. At this stage I will not support a submarine operation be cause (of the way) submarines are designed. But ships can be modified and new ships can be designed to have facilities for women,” the minister said.

He added that the idea of allowing girl cadets at the premier National Defence Academy as well as Sainik Schools is also being considered, indicating that these all male bastions could soon change their intake pattern.