Army considers induction of women cadres in Territorial Army battalions, say sources
New Delhi (PTI): The Army has considered inducting women cadres into the Territorial Army battalions as a pilot project, with their recruitment to be initially limited to a few battalions, sources said on Sunday.
The move is aimed at gradually opening up more opportunities for women in the force.
The Territorial Army, in its current form, came into being with the enactment of the Territorial Army Act on August 18, 1948. It was formally inaugurated by the first Indian Governor General, C Rajagopalachari, on October 9, 1949.
According to sources, the Army has considered the induction of women cadres into Territorial Army battalions as a pilot project. Their recruitment, initially, will be limited to a few battalions, and may increase subsequently in other battalions based on initial feedback, they added.
The government has been emphasising the essence of 'Nari Shakti' in the armed forces.
In a written response to a query in Rajya Sabha in March 2022, then Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt had said the combat employment philosophy of women in the armed forces is a continuously evolving process and regularly reviewed by them.
"At present, women are being commissioned in the Indian Army into 10 arms and services, viz., Corps of Engineers, Corps of Signals, Army Air Defence, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Aviation Corps, Intelligence Corps, Judge Advocate General Branch and Army Education Corps in addition to the Armed Forces Medical Services," he had said.
The Territorial Army was raised on the concept of being a 'citizen soldier's army'. Besides augmenting the organisational requirements, the Territorial Army also provides an opportunity to able-bodied volunteer citizens of India, especially those who are overage for enrollment in the regular army, to serve the nation in uniform.
Presently, the Territorial Army has a strength of approximately 50,000 personnel comprising 65 Departmental TA units such as Railway, IOC, ONGC, and Non-Departmental TA units of Infantry Battalion (TA) including Home and Hearth Battalions, Ecological Battalion (TA) affiliated to various Infantry Regiments and Engineer Regiment (TA) for maintenance of Line of Control fencing, according to its website.
The Territorial Army units were actively involved in 1962, 1965 and 1971 operations. The "Terriers" had also taken part in Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka, Operation Rakshak in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, Operation Rhino and Operation Bajrang in the northeast in the most active manner.
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PM, Shah lied to nation on Women's Bill, tried replicating 'Assam, JK' model, alleges Rahul in TN
Ranipet (Tamil Nadu) (PTI): Congress top leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah "lied" to the nation claiming they were attempting to pass a bill for women's quota.
However, hidden behind such a claim was a "diabolic idea" of bid to change the nation's electoral map and weaken states. What was attempted was an "anti-national act and it was against the union of states," he alleged.
The BJP-led government transformed the electoral map of Assam and Jammu and Kashmir and they intend doing it in the rest of the country as well, he alleged.
Addressing his second election rally in this northern Tamil Nadu town, located about 120 km from Chennai, Gandhi spoke on the Constitution amendment bill that was defeated in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
"Yesterday, you might have seen what PM Modi, and Home Miniser Amit Shah were trying to do in Parliament. They told the nation a lie, they said they were trying to pass a bill for women's representation. But hidden behind thatbill was a diabolic idea," he alleged.
Also, he claimed that PM Modi and Shah wanted to change the electoral map of the country.
He alleged: "They wanted to change no of seats that each state gets. They wanted to weaken south Indian states, weaken north eastern states and weaken smaller states...what the BJP was trying to do yesterday was an anti-national act and it was against the union of states."
The entire opposition stood like a rock and defeated the BJP's "nefarious design." The BJP is attacking the democratic foundations of India, he said adding they were using delimitation as a political weapon.
He alleged: "They have transformed the electoral map of Assam and Jammu and Kashmir and they want to do that to the rest of the country. Their main idea is to attack your (Tamil) history, culture, language and tradition." Furthermore, he alleged that the people have already seen PM Modi attacking the Constitution.
"In the Constitution, it is clearly written India that is Bharat is a union of states. that means that every state has to have a voice. "
He said the TN Assembly election was about stopping BJP-RSS from capturing Tamil Nadu.
On Saturday, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha launched his campaign in Tamil Nadu for the April 23 polls from Ponneri. The Congress is a part of the ruling DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and is contesting from 28 seats.
