BSF to induct more women in force

As on date, there are 42 sub-inspectors and 3,280 constables in BSF

New Delhi:

More women will be recruited for various roles in the Border Security Force which guards the country's frontiers with Pakistan and Bangladesh, its chief D K Pathak said on Friday.

"There has been an increase in number of women in BSF. Our endeavour is to increase the number of women in the forces," Pathak told reporters.

The women sub-inspectors in a junior leadership role were first inducted in 2010 with the recruitment of 15 such personnel. As on date, there are 42 sub-inspectors and 3,280 constables, the BSF said in a release.

BSF in order to strengthen the security on the borders and to facilitate women workers in the fields, initially recruited women constables in combat role, then sub-inspector and now first batch of women officers will be joining the force in February 2016, it said.

With the recruitment of 745 constables, women cadre in combat role was introduced in 2008. The tasks entrusted and performed by them are at par with men 'praharis' and as such they are performing all operational, security and intelligence -related tasks, the release said.

"To maintain physical, mental and emotional robustness of these women combatants, the BSF is taking required measures to provide adequate infrastructural support, gender sensitisation of all rank, separate transfer policy and constitution of complaint committee at all levels to look into sexual harassment cases," it said.

With induction of approximately 1,000 women personnel annually, the BSF is moving in the right direction to achieve the target of five per cent strength of women force in the Central Armed Police Forces as directed by the central government, it said.