The Indian Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, has sanctioned an equalization policy allowing women serving as soldiers, sailors, and air warriors to avail of maternity, child care, and child adoption leave identical to the provisions for their officer colleagues.
The Ministry of Defence announced the initiative on Sunday, reflecting Minister Singh’s commitment to ensuring inclusive participation of women across all ranks in the armed forces.
This reform aims to enhance the working conditions for servicewomen, facilitating a harmonious integration of their professional duties with family responsibilities.
As per the new directive, female personnel in the military, regardless of rank, will now benefit from equal maternity leave rights, enjoying 180 days of leave at full pay for up to two children. Additionally, childcare leave of up to 360 days is granted across a woman’s service tenure, provided the child is under 18 years old. For those adopting a child under the age of one, a 180-day leave policy is now in effect.
This expansion of leave entitlements is seen as a significant stride towards addressing the unique familial and societal challenges faced by women in uniform.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, to harness “Nari Shakti” (woman power) within the armed forces. The inclusion of women as soldiers, sailors, and air warriors is viewed as a testament to their valor, commitment, and patriotic spirit in safeguarding the nation’s territories.
Women have been making their mark across various domains in the military, from serving in the Siachen glacier to being stationed on warships and taking to the skies. In 2019, another landmark was achieved when women were inducted into the Indian Army’s Corps of Military Police as soldiers.
Minister Singh has long advocated for gender parity across all professional sectors, and this latest move is aligned with his vision.
