Women in Indian army unlikely to get combat roles any time soon, appointment of two women ADCs is a small step forward
NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The Indian army plans for the first time to appoint female officers to high-profile positions assisting military commanders stationed in the field, the Hindustan Times reported on Tuesday.
Army Chief Bikram Singh told the newspaper he had issued orders for women to be appointed to the post of aide-de-camp or ADC -- officers who usually act as personal assistants to high-ranking military officials.
"Women officers are one of the most worthy segments of our human capabilities and their aspirations need to be addressed so they remain motivated," Singh was quoted as saying, adding that he would appoint two female ADCs in the coming months.
India has one of the largest armies in the world and around 2.5 percent of its one million personnel are women, most of them administrators, intelligence officers, doctors or dentists.
Unlike countries such as the United States and Israel, India does not allow female officers to be assigned combat duties.
The Hindustan Times report said Singh approved the appointment of women officers as ADCs in response to a study that showed women wanted to be given combat roles, a move army officials say is unlikely in the immediate future.
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