Title: Low Representation of Women in Central Armed Police Forces Calls for Urgent Action
A parliamentary committee has raised concerns over the low representation of women in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and has called for immediate action to encourage their participation. The committee, headed by BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi, has also recommended the introduction of reservation for transgenders in the forces.
According to the committee’s latest report, as of September 30, 2022, women account for only 3.76% of personnel in the CAPFs and Assam Rifles. Recognizing the need for change, the committee highlighted the challenging terrains and working conditions that currently prevent women from joining the forces.
To address this issue, the committee proposed that a policy be implemented to provide women officers with softer postings, sparing them from extremely strenuous and difficult working conditions. However, this exception would not apply in exceptional circumstances such as during times of war or armed rebellion, when there may be an absolute shortage of male personnel.
Additionally, the committee stressed the importance of including transgenders in the forces and recommended the initiation of recruitment efforts to integrate them into mainstream society.
The limited representation of women in the CAPFs is evident, with only 3.65% of vacancies for women being filled thus far. The Border Security Force (BSF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) have a representation of just 14-15% women, while the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) stands at 6.35%, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at 2.83%.
The panel highlighted the absence of reserved positions for women in the CAPFs. However, in 2011, following the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Empowerment of Women, directives were issued to increase the percentage of women in the forces to 5% within three years.
As of September 30, 2022, there were 34,278 women personnel serving in the CAPFs and Assam Rifles. The committee called for a special drive to recruit local youngsters from border districts, particularly those from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, the North Eastern states, and Kashmir. This measure aims to ensure that the energy and talent of youth from these regions are directed towards positive avenues and away from extremism and terrorism.
The committee emphasized the need to address the existing vacancies in the CAPFs and Assam Rifles on an urgent basis. As of January 1, 2023, there were 83,127 vacant positions across the forces. The committee recommended establishing a robust monitoring mechanism to track retirements, vacancy creation, and appointments to avoid backlogs and ensure timely recruitment.
In conclusion, the underrepresentation of women in the Central Armed Police Forces is a pressing concern that calls for proactive measures. By implementing policies to offer softer postings, encouraging transgender recruitment, and prioritizing the filling of vacancies, the forces can work towards achieving greater gender equality and enhanced operational effectiveness.
