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An all-women's unit in the insurgency-hit northeast region has been proposed by the Territorial Army, a reserve force of trained civilians for the Indian Army, an official said on Tuesday.
Presently, women are allowed to join as doctors and nurses in the Territorial Army, which has a strength of 40,000.
"There is a proposal for raising an all women's battalion for the northeast," was told by Maj. Gen. K.V.S. Lalotra .The additional director general of the Territorial Army informed members of parliament during a presentation on the force.
Territorial Army also proposes to make flexible training schedule to accommodate the requirements of working professionals in a bid to tap young talent from the corporate, engineering, IT and other fields.
"There is a proposal to shorten their training period because if you are taking in an expert then you do not have to give him that much training," Lalotra said.
Currently, an officer has to undergo a mandatory training of four months followed by two months of training every year on joining the Territorial Army .The training period has been proposed to be reduced to one month and 14 days respectively.
"Many politicians are keen to join the Territorial Army but considering our responsibilities towards our constituencies we cannot. But this flexible training programme will solve that problem also," said Deepinder Hooda, MP from Rohtak.
The Territorial Army is a voluntary, part-time Citizen's Army, comprising of people who are not professional soldiers but civilians eager to be a part of country’s defence. It acts as a reserve for the regular army in times of need and draws men from the 18-42 age groups.
