State's women gunning for Army

Michelle Young / TNN / Mar 3, 2008, 01:41 IST

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The number of girls from Gujarat to have joined the Indian Army has doubled in the past seven years.

AHMEDABAD: Chandani Zala��s father always dreamt of being in the armed forces, but he couldn��t because he had to take up a job to support the family. So, when Chandani, 21, decided to make a career in the Army, he was the first to stand by her.
Sangeeta Upadhyay, 22, too faced no resistance at home when she decided to go for a career with the Army as her father is an ex-serviceman.
These girls are among the growing breed of women from Gujarat keen on a career in the armed forces with all its rough and tumble.
Both Chandani and Sangeeta have just appeared for the Combined Defence Service (CDS) examination.

In fact, the number of girls from Gujarat to have joined the Indian Army has doubled in the past seven years.
Figures of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) show that the number of girls joining the Army has gone up from seven to 14 in seven years.
Even NCC has seen increased enrolment. If 12,520 girls joined the NCC in 2000, the figure shot up to 17,112 in 2007.
Says commanding officer of the Gujarat Girls�� Battalion Colonel R Srivastava, "The numbers are increasing perhaps because girls in Gujarat are seeking more challenging roles now."

These girls have to go through a tough screening process to set foot in the Officers�� Training Academy, Chennai, including a written exam, physical tests, psychological evaluation, group discussion, extempore speech and personal interviews. But, the girls are raring to go.
"I believe that there is nothing that boys can and girls can��t do. Rather than take up a nine-to-five job, I want to earn my living by serving my nation," says Sangeeta. "Being in the Army gives one a rare sense
of achievement."
Says Chandani, "Earlier, the Army was not considered a viable career option for girls. But now it is, in terms of both personal and financial security. It��s a pity women officers do not get to serve for more than 15 years."
Brigadier A K Verma of the NCC Directorate says, "If a girl cadet gets commissioned into the Army, she gives it her best and completes the tenure while boys are not as committed. There are many boys who walk out in the middle of the training period."

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