BSF to induct 1,000 women in combat duties by July-end

New Delhi, July 12 (PTI) Setting a milestone, India's
Border Security Force will induct about 1,000 women personnel
for combat duties for the first time by the end of this month.

The women, who are currently undergoing training at the
BSF establishment in Khatka, in northern state Punjab, will
participate in the passing out parade on July 29, which will
be attended by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

"It would be a proud day for us when women will work
shoulder-to-shoulder with men," BSF Director General M L
Kumawat told PTI.

These personnel have been imparted training in weapon
handling, intelligence, border management, sports, unarmed
combat frisking and guard duties.

The women, along with their male counterparts, will carry
out search and frisking at check posts, immigration points and
trade routes along the borders which the force guards.

"The women component is essentially needed for the force
as our duty of guarding borders involves frisking women
travellers besides other relevant duties," Kumawat said. The
first batch will be deployed in Punjab sector.

The newly trained personnel will be inducted for the
posts of constables and the BSF also expects to get women
officers in the post of assistant commandants and higher
ranks.

The women battalion will be part of the 29 battalions
sanctioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs for the BSF as part
of its expansion plan. Around 35,000 personnel will be
inducted by the paramilitary force for these 29 battalions in
the next four years.

"Around 10,000 personnel are being recruited by BSF this
year and they will be ready for deployment by March 2010,"
Kumawat said.

While women personnel in central forces like CRPF, CISF
and SSB are already performing ground duties, this is for the
first time that BSF will deploy women on ground.

The BSF guards the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir
and the country's 6,622 kms borders with Pakistan, Bangladesh
and Myanmar. PTI ACB