New Delhi, August 1
The government today issued orders bringing on a par the terms and
conditions for men and women officers opting for entry to the Army
through the Short Service Commission in the wake of the recent uproar
over complaints of discrimination against the fair sex.
In another major gender gesture under the new system, both men and women officers will enjoy common inter-se-seniority at the end of training at the Officers Training
Academy, Chennai, for preference while opting for technical or non-technical streams.
The Army has now scrapped the special entry scheme for women and allowed them entry into the Army through commission as short service officers for contractual service ranging from 10 to 14 years, according to a Defence Ministry announcement here.
The Army has also raised the training period for women officers from 24 weeks to 49 weeks, the same as for Short Service Commission men officers and under the new system, women officers would now be eligible for substantive promotion to the rank of Captain in 2 years, Major after six years and Lt-Col in 13 years .
The new announcement said the government had also cleared the women officers for receiving rank pay and said the new order would be effective from December 16, 2004. Women officers, under the new orders, have to opt for the new scheme within six months to get these benefits.
However, the orders said that those officers, both men and women, who had retired between December 16, 2004 and July 20, 2006, would not be eligible for any benefits.
— PTI
