Modi Govt Approves Formation of First Ever All Women CISF Battalion

New Delhi: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), on Tuesday, approved formation of first all-women battalion of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), in a push for women empowerment in defence forces. move also marks a significant milestone in enhancing diversity within security forces of country. This will be a first-ever all-women CISF battalion comprising more than 1,000 personnel, which has been sanctioned by Union government keeping in mind burgeoning duties of force in VIP security, airports and or vital installations.

According to officials, unit will be raised from within sanctioned manpower of force of about two lakh personnel. Union home ministry issued a sanction order on Monday approving an exclusive women unit called "reserve battalion" in force with a total strength of 1,025 personnel led by a senior commandant-rank officer, y said.

Women personnel constitute over seven per cent of force whose present strength is about 1.80 lakh. A force spokesperson said preparations for early recruitment, training and selection of location for stationing new reserve battalion has been initiated. " training is being specially designed to create an elite battalion capable of performing a multifarious role as commandos in VIP security and also security of airports, Delhi Metro, etc.," he said.

Once raised, it will be first all-women reserve battalion of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

CISF has 12 reserve battalions under its establishment at present and y have a mix of both men and women personnel.

As name suggests, reserve units are kept in reiness and this pool is used as reinforcement when force gets a new job like temporary duties of conducting elections and permanent tasks of guarding an installation like Parliament House complex that came under CISF cover this year, an official said.

force has a huge interface with women commuters and visitors at facilities like 68 civil airports it guards, Delhi Metro and historical monuments like Taj Mahal and Red Fort. It alrey has female personnel deployed at se duty locations.

Apart from se installations, 1969-raised CISF provides a counter-terrorist security cover to a number of facilities in nuclear and aero domain apart from those in private sector like Infosys offices in Bengaluru and Pune, Reliance refinery in Jamnagar ( Gujarat ), among ors.

CISF projected a requirement of having an all-women reserve battalion early this year following directions of Union home minister Amit Shah during 53rd Raising Day of force that was held in March 2023, a home ministry official said.

" dition of a 'mahila' (women) battalion would encour more aspiring young women across country to join CISF and serve nation. It will give a new identity to women in CISF," spokesperson said.

(With inputs from PTI)