Women’s role vital in non-commissioned
ranks of IAF
Beyond fighter pilot glamour
Beyond fighter pilot glamour
http://www.rediff.com/news/column/beyond-the-fighter-pilot-glamour/20151027.htm
On the occasion of the 83rd anniversary
of the Indian Air Force, the Air Chief announced the intended induction of
women fighter pilots in the near future. He was addressing serving personnel and
veterans. Amidst cheers and applause,
most would have expected traditional bureaucratic delay. News of Govt approval within
two weeks of the Air Force Day on
8th October 2015 has, therefore, come as a pleasant surprise.
8th October 2015 has, therefore, come as a pleasant surprise.
One
may believe that the transformation of IAF to include women would be complete after
putting the first woman fighter pilot in the cockpit in June 2017. Would it
really be so? Is getting women as officers and fighter pilots the end state of
women’s equality and opportunities? Why have we focused mainly on the question
of women becoming fighter pilots? Why have women never asked for induction as Airwomen
(technician and clerks, who also do armed guard duties), Security Guards or
Enrolled Non-Combatants? Is it that these jobs at lower levels demand far greater
hardships without being glamorous?
Sri
Lanka and India were decades ahead of the western world in getting women
elected as their respective heads of governments. Does that in any way indicate
that our women were more empowered than the rest? Empowerment of any section of
society does not happen by a few top level appointments. Top level appointments
primarily serve the concerned individuals’ ascent. Instead, the engagement of
larger sections at the base gets them genuine representation and respect.
During a debate on NDTV a few years
ago, there was an onslaught by one and all on a former Vice Chief of IAF. The debaters
and the audience were both emotionally charged about the denial of fighter
pilot opportunities to women. Ever since, I have been wondering why no one ever
raised a question of non-employment of women in the ranks below officers’
level. The Indian woman wants to first become a fighter pilot – good. However,
it would be an exaggeration to project it as a national cause for women’s empowerment. Women joining at ranks below
officers’ level will create tens of thousands of job opportunities besides
truly changing the Air Force beyond face value.
Apart from officers, including fighter
pilots, the Air Force is predominantly made up of the larger base of air
warriors below officers’ rank. The first lot of UK trained pilots was
commissioned and the Gazette notification for establishment of IAF issued on 8th
October 1932. However, IAF started functioning in the real sense only after the
Hawai Sepoys joined on formation of its first squadron, the No. 1 Squadron
With the government approval for
fighter pilots, a major win for the cause of women’s prestige and pride has
been achieved. We should now shift the focus away from accompanied glamour to
the realities of life affecting women’s participation. The Armed Forces now
need to move towards attaining cohesive inclusion of women across their ranks.
We have reason to informally believe
that the IAF is thinking about taking on the challenges of employing women in
the rank and file of its organization. As part of a group on a short visit to
Israel years ago, I recall facing a young woman dressed in battle fatigues and
armed with a machine gun checking us for security at the entrance of a military
station. Let us trust our Air Force that such a scenario will be a reality in
India, not too far into the future.
Air Mshl PV Athawale PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
Former AOC_in-C Maintenance Command IAF
Very nice
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