BY : Dailyindia

The Indian Air Force (IAF) though has a meagre presence of only seven percent women officers as compared to its total strength, it is still better than the Army and Navy, where women officers constitute only 2.6 and 2.9 percent of the services' total strength respectively. In a written reply to Lok Sabha, Defence Minister A K Antony stated that several measures have been taken up by the armed forces to attract more women to join the country defence force.

Women are appointed only as Short Service Commission (SSC) officers in some select branches in the three defence forces. In field like medical, nursing and dental services, they are however appointed both in Short Service and Permanent Commissions.

Their strength in the Army, Navy and Air Force are 945, 236 and 739 respectively, and there have been many instances of women officers leaving the services.

In the last three years, 147 women officers left the Army, while Navy and Air Force witnessed 37 and 111 attrition.

Three IAF women officers recently lodged writ petitions against non-grant of Permanent Commission.

However, the Defence Ministry refused to comment on it stating that the" matter is sub-judice".

Recently, all officers including Women Short Service Commission (SSC) officers were made eligible to hold substantive rank of Captain, Major and Lt Col after 2, 6 and 13 years of reckonable service respectively. Government has also issued orders extending the tenure of SSC officers, including women officers, from 10 years to 14 years.