New Delhi: The first batch of 3000 Agniveers, including 341 women, has been trained in the Indian Navy under the Agnipath scheme. This is the first time that women have been inducted into the Navy as sailors. The training of these women will be similar to that of men. Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said that out of the one million people who applied for the posts in the Indian Navy, 82,000 were women. He said that from next year, all branches will be opened for women officers.
The Navy chief said the forces should be gender-neutral. He said that earlier women were admitted in 7-8 branches, including fighter pilots and women air operation officers in the Indian Navy, but now women sailors are also being recruited. They will be provided the same postings and training as their male counterparts. Addressing the passing out parade of the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakwasla in Pune, Admiral Hari Kumar has said, "They will be deployed on ships, airbases, and aircraft. They will be trained for everything, the way a normal sailor is trained. There will be no difference in training. Only the person's potential will be seen.''
Appreciating the Agnipath plan, the Navy Chief said it is a brilliant plan, which has been introduced after "extensive deliberations and extensive study of how other armed forces have organized their manpower". He said that the idea came in the middle of 2020 and it took about two years to implement it. Speaking about reducing the average age of the army, he said, 'There is a recommendation in the Kargil Review Committee report that there is a need to bring down the age limit in the armed forces. At that time the average age was 32 years and it was recommended that it should be brought down to about 25-26 years.'
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