Women Quota Initiated in Paramilitary by Government

In order to make gender equality a reality and put into a stronger front the government of India has decided to approve 33% reservation for women in the constable rank in two of country’s major central paramilitary forces; CRPF and CISF. The centre has also agreed to give away 15% quota to women candidates in border forces recruitment such as BSF, SSB and ITBP.

These forces together comprise of over nine lakh personnel in the entire country, of which only 20000 are presently women candidates. The government has announced that the reservation for these forces for women candidates will come into immediate effect from the next set of recruitments. The decision was taken by the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The home ministry  said in a statement, “With a view to enhance representation of women in central armed police forces, home minister Rajnath Singh has approved 33% posts at constable level for being filled up by women.”

The statement further said that the reservation will be horizontal in nature. The decision by the home ministry resulted after the recommendation of the committee which was formed to look after the gender equality in the work field in India. It pointed out that there is urgent need of more women representation in paramilitary forces. It is important for the safety of women in the country as well. The CRPF, which is world’s largest paramilitary force to maintain law and order and curb anti-Naxalite operations, has only 6300 women in its ranks. The committee further reported that only 9% of the total Delhi Police force is of women police officers. They urged the home ministry to make efforts to rise to minimum 33%.

According to the committee report, “As on date, the representation of women in Delhi Police is 9.2% only. However, on March 20, 2015, Government of India has approved reservation of 33% for women horizontally and in each category (SC, ST, OBC and others) in direct recruitment in non-gazetted posts from constable to sub-inspector in the police forces of all Union Territories, including Delhi Police.”