BSF female cadets angry over denial of officer's rank

Ferozepur (Punjab), June 5 (ANI): Female cadets of the Border Security (BSF) deployed in Ferozepur are an angry lot these days after the Central Government ruled out officer posts for them.

The Government has ruled out officer posts for women in select paramilitary forces, even as a significant number of women are being recruited to the lower ranks.

Female cadets decry the government's decision saying that they have served the nation as efficiently as the men and should hence be treated at par with them.

"We have male constables in the BSF and we too. They have retired as higher rank officers like Deputy Inspector General, Inspector General, etc. Even we want to retire as DIG and IG," said Sonia, a female constable.

"The government has announced that we cannot be officers and we are not all happy with the decision," she added.

Sonia further said performance and merit should be the only deciding criteria.

Another BSF constable Meenu said both men and women should be treated at par and given equality in the armed forces.

"We want to have a successful future in the security force and one day be an officer. I think men and women should get equality in the force. We all work together and we women work as efficiently as men," said Meenu.

"Women have the right to achieve want they want and be an officer. If we are performing our duties then we should have the right to become an officer too," she added. (ANI)