‘We want strong women officers, maybe like Kali Ma’: Indian Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi

He, however, said the Army wants strong officers and it needed to create a gender-neutral environment.

“As far as women officers are concerned, we want strong women officers. Does it mean Kali Mata ka roop (the embodiment of Goddess Kali often associated with power and wrath)? Maybe. But it has to be a gender-neutral approach in the conduct. And even the infrastructure which is being provided in the field areas. Places like Sikkim and Mizoram are already looking into it. The physical test parameters should nearly be the same. But keeping in view the physical conditions, there may be some exception which will be made,” he said.

Gen Dwivedi made a special mention of Colonel Ponung Doming who he said would be awarded this year. “She is from East Siang from Passighat. When I was in Northern Command, in Dhemchok one of the most difficult roads was being built and she was always there. I went to Umling La, which is the highest motorable pass, and she was always there. I went to an underground cavern and she was again there. You find all kinds of examples,” he said.

According to the Ministry of Defence, Doming is the first woman officer to command the world’s highest Border Task Force located above 15,000 feet in the Northern sector with multiple firsts to her credit in over 20 years of service.

The Indian Army chief said women officers are pilots in the aviation branch as well as in the Territorial Army, Central Air Command, and Army Ordnance Corps. “Approximately 1,700 women are presently training in Sainik schools, military schools, and RAMC. They will be coming into the Indian Army and tri-services. It is something that has to happen and it will happen in a mature and welcoming way,” he said.

Gen Dwivedi stressed that the number of women in the Army will increase gradually. “Acceptance and creating that kind of environment is equally important at this point in time. We have a Vishakha guideline, but we do not have similar guidelines for men. So, when we talk about gender neutrality, slowly we have to prepare society and the military for that. Once we get that you will find the numbers increasing,” he said.