Hyderabad, June 20: Even after the Indian Air Force agreed last week to offer permanent commission to all the 22 women officers who went to court in accordance with the Delhi High Court orders, there is still a glass ceiling.
It may be recalled that the court orders came in March this year on a petition filed by 22 IAF and another 30-odd Army women officers, who accused the government of discriminating against them vis-a-vis their male counterparts.
The minister of state for defence, M M Pallam Raju, on Saturday said that the intention of the government is to induct lady officers gradually into the armed forces and it is a welcome step. Replying to media queries on the sidelines of the passing out parade at the Air Force Academy at Dundigul, the minister said that the tri-services have increasingly been making changes to accommodate lady officers in more and more fields as women officers in the IAF are already flying helicopters and transport aircraft. When asked why women officer are still being excluded from combat roles, like flying fighter aircraft, he said that it is an issue the Chiefs of Staff Committee is looking into and which has to take a decision. However, “the intention to exclude them from combat roles is to keep them out of danger,” he added.
On a question regarding involvement of the armed forces to curb Naxal activities, Pallam Raju said that as far as internal security is concerned, the government has to take a decision whether to involve the armed forces or not. “After all they (Maoists) are also our own citizens. Also, there is the issue of collateral damage. The government is looking into the issue and it’s not a matter for public debate,” he clarified.
The minister said that the government has planned to induct 126 latest multi role combat aircrafts (MCAs) for which trials are over and vendors who qualify in the evaluation trial will be invited for submission of financial bids. He added that the ministry headed by A K Antony has adopted speedier process of acquisition in a transparent manner and the present government has utilized most of the defence budget last year.
The minister said that the government was also trying to boost the morale of thedefence forces by solving their long standing issues including pay revision under Sixth Pay Commission and setting up of an Armed Forces Tribunal.
———Agencies