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The first batch of Indian women BSF troopers has assumed charge at the India-Pakistan border of Punjab on Friday. The batch had undergone 38 months of intense and tough training.
The women officials of BSF are taking the responsibility of guarding the international borders for the first time.
"Today, after a formal ceremony called 'sainik sammelan', all the girls have joined their duty on the border. They are all very energetic and full of enthusiasm. In fact, they have already started their work and are busy frisking people and guiding them on the border checkposts," BSF Punjab frontier deputy inspector general (DIG) Jagir Singh told.
178 girls were recruited by BSF and all these girls have been provided training for tacking any emergency as well as to handle sophisticated weapons. 1118 of these female BSF guards have been posted near the 553-km fenced India-Pakistan border in Punjab, whereas 60 have taken charge of the India-Bangladesh border.
"The women troopers will cover all the BOPs (border outposts). For the time being, they will be assigned only non-combat duties and will not carry arms," said Jagir Singh.
Most of the new recruits are between 19 and 25 years of age. Among them, 14 are postgraduates, 22 graduates and 128 have studied up to Class 12. The recruits include 25 sportspersons and 11 National Cadet Corps (NCC) volunteers.
