Our constitution forbids discriminating women in any walk of life. They enjoy equal rights with men. Not all western countries conceded the equality of women and men in their constitutions for a long period. It is only recently that women in Western countries have been able to enjoy rights at par with men folks. Our constitutional fathers were gifted with great foresight and they knew that India could not progress unless women who compose half of the population of the country are given equal rights.
Notwithstanding constitutional provisions, on the ground the reality is that women in our county did have representation in services commensurate with their population. Primary reason for that weakness was that literacy rate among Indian women was low and qualified women candidates were not available. But soon after the country became independent, full attention was given to spreading education among the women and various schemes were undertaken that helped in educating the women. The situation today is completely different. The level of female literacy has substantially increased. All services are thrown open to them and they have entry into all professional institutions on the basis of merit.
In the beginning the presence of women in police and armed forces services was almost negligible. But gradually things began to change and first of all the Police Department opened its doors on women candidates. Thereafter other paramilitary organizations also accepted women enrolment. The Government aims at having at least 33 per cent women in paramilitary forces.
Republic Day, falling on 26th January is round the corner and preparations are made for the grand march past of our armed forces on this day. The National Cadet Corps (NCC), which is the corps of young boys and girls of teen age in schools and colleges of the country receiving training in physical discipline and the lighter services, will be taking part in the Republic Day Parade. We have information that 2,069 cadets, including 695 girls have participated in the NCC camp this year. Of this, one all-male contingent and all-female contingent with the strength of 148 each will participate in the Republic Day Parade. Plus, one all-male band of 90 cadets and all-female band of 45 cadets will also participate in the Republic Day Parade. It is good news and will be great morale booster for millions of young boys and girls in our country to become distinguished cadets and make their presence felt in the cadres of defence forces. This indicates a gradual but very healthy change in our social structure. Our young generations need physical discipline and full encouragement. Actually, the NCC should widen and deepen its activities and enroll more and more of our youth in the ranks of NCC. We have shortage of officers in all the three services. Apart from that, we need to recruit females in other paramilitary organizations and thus bring the women of India out of age old inertia and discrimination. Indian women have played significant role in the building of this nation and still a great role awaits them. They have to rise and grab the role.
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