Army to induct women in military police (Second Lead)

New Delhi Sep 8 (IANS) The Indian Army would induct women in the Corps of Military Police as JCOs and jawans and a proposal is being finalised for inducting around 800 women for it -- with an yearly intake of 52 it was announced on Friday.

The decision was announced at the Army Chiefs Conclave a forum of former Army chiefs who were told that with increasing needs for investigation of gender-specific allegations and crime a necessity was felt to introduce women in the Corps of Military Police.

Women form a very minor section in the armed forces with the IAF having the highest number at 1 350 followed by the army with 1 300 and the navy with 450 women officers according to official information.

The 1.3 million-strong armed forces have 59 400 officers.

The Indian Air Force in June last year commissioned three women as fighter pilots.

The Indian Navy is planning to induct women as pilots for reconnaissance aircraft but there are no women on warships and submarines.

Then President Pranab Mukherjee in his address to a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament in the beginning of Budget Session last year had said in the future government would induct women in all the combat streams.

The three-day Army Chief s Conclave hosted by Army Chief General Bipin Rawat is being attended by eight former army chiefs.

--IANS
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