Women Soldiers, Officers To Get Same Maternity, Child Care Leave: Defence Minister
Defence minister Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal to extend the rules for Maternity, Child Care and Child Adoption Leaves for women in the Armed Forces to match those for officers.
According to the PIB statement, this benefit will be available to all women in the armed forces, regardless of whether they are officers or not. Singh went on to say that all female soldiers, sailors and air warriors will be eligible for this.
According to the statement, the minister believes that this measure will help improve the working conditions of women in the military and help them better balance their professional and personal lives.
Taking to X, Defence Minister's Office wrote, “The decision is in line with the RM’s vision of inclusive participation of all women in the Armed Forces, irrespective of their ranks. The extension of leave rules will go a long way in dealing with women-specific family and social issues relevant to the Armed Forces"
The three services have spearheaded a paradigm shift with the inclusion of women as soldiers, sailors and air warriors, it said, adding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to utilising Nari Shakti.
The ministry also stated that by recruiting women Agniveers, the Armed Forces will be equipped with the bravery, dedication and patriotism of women soldiers, sailors and air warriors to defend the country's land, sea and air borders.
