MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (SHRI A.K. ANTONY)
(a) to (f): A statement is attached.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3581 FOR ANSWER ON 3.9.2012
(a) & (b): Women are inducted as Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs) in Armed Forces. Details of women officers (excluding medical streams) commissioned during the last three years are as under:
Year Army Navy Air Force
2009 70 24 125
2010 93 39 145
2011 164 68 134
(c) At present, the percentage of women officers as per held strength of officers in Army, Navy and Air Force (excluding medical streams) is 3.3 per cent, 3.9 per cent and 10.04 per cent respectively.
(d) to (f): The Parliamentary Committee on ‘Empowerment of Women’ have made observations with regard to grant of pension to SSCOs. As per extant provisions, a minimum qualifying service of 20 years is necessary for grant of pension. As such, SSCOs (both Men and Women) who render 14 years service, are eligible for terminal benefits including terminal gratuity, leave encashment etc. but are not eligible for grant of retirement pension. Nevertheless, an SSCO is entitled to disability / war injury pension in the event of acquiring disability of 20% or above held attributable to or aggravated by military service. The Committee have been apprised accordingly.
