Team Herald
PANJIM: Stating that “change in the thinking pattern at the Ministry of Defence” is his biggest achievement in last eleven months, Union Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday announced women combat in Army in counter terrorism operation.
Union Defence Minister also said that the notification in regards to implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP), which will be also applicable to the army officers who have gone for pre- matured retirement (PMR), would be issued after the ensuring Bihar Assembly election.
Parrikar was speaking during ‘man-o-logue’ organized by the Rotary Club of Panaji. He was interviewed by the Senior Editor India Today Group Gaurav Sawant.
“We want to treat women equally in the field of defence. Not just we want to hire women as fighter aircraft pilots but also in combat in army in counter terror operation” Minister said.
“However, this cannot happen over night. This would be done in phase manner considering the training and infrastructure,” he said. Ministry also intends to inform the Supreme Court about its decision.
Earlier this week, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha had said the IAF had moved a proposal to induct women as fighter aircraft pilots.
Parrikar said that the decision is a fallout of Prime Minister Narendra Modi vision to empower women in all fields including defence.
“I too don’t find any reason as why women need to be discriminated. In fact they perform far better in all fields,” he commented.
“In Goa too, we have women as better performers everywhere, except in politics,” he added.
The Union Minister said that his biggest achievement in last 11 month in chair has been ‘change in thinking pattern at the Ministry of Defence’.
In his more than one hour long interview, Parrikar said that the Ministry intends to bring in Make in India in defence in its procurement. “We spend around 2,50,000 crore on preparedness of eventuality every year. Hence for defence it is important to develop most of the thing through Make in India,” he stressed on.
