Calamity Janes

• The Indo-Tibetan Border Police is the first paramilitary to raise a battalion of women commandos
• The battalion of 600 troops was raised on October 24
• They will be deployed in Maoist-affected areas
• Trained in jungle warfare, their deployment is aimed at reducing complaints of sexual violence

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Now make way for women commandos. Raised on October 24, an all-woman battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has been put through intensive training—including the use of AK-47s and other sophisticated weapons, jungle warfare and survival techniques—for eventual deployment in conflict zones, such as regions dominated by the Maoists. The idea, say officers of the ITBP, is to use the battalion in establishing women-to-women contact with the tribespeople of those regions, living in the stressful double-bind of being caught between two armed groups, the heavy hand of the state on one side and those adhering to a violent revolution on the other. Essentially, it’s a response to the many reported instances of male security personnel sexually harassing tribal  women—even rape has been alleged—during search operations.

The new battalion comprises 600 women in four companies of 150 commandos each. Plans are for inducting more women into the force. “We are raising the overall percentage of women in the paramilitaries,” says Union home secretary G.K. Pillai. “Currently, it’s five per cent, but the home ministry plans to take it to 20 per cent. The ITBP battalion of women commandos is a step towards that goal. Soon, there will be women’s battalions in other paramilitaries too.”

It’s a policy change women like Swati Gupta, 23, bubbling with energy, and awaiting her first posting as a soldier of the ITBP, would look forward to. “I wanted to join the forces and serve the country, so I’m living my dream,” she says. Her colleague Shikha Gautam, 21, shares the enthusiasm. “Since my school days, I have been part of the NCC. Now, I’m happy to be part of my battalion, and have a strategy to deal with women in conflict zones. They want to be heard and we’ll offer them a platform to share their thoughts and feelings.” Fresh from training, the two commandos and their colleagues are all set for deployment in the troubled areas of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jammu & Kashmir.

“Women are sensitive, compassionate about social issues. The effort is to initiate a softer approach,” says U.K. Upreti, I-G (Operations & Training), ITBP. “ITBP is the first to raise a women commandos’ battalion. Other central paramilitaries will now look at doing likewise.”

The 11-month programme, which trained the recruits in not only weapons  but also psy-ops and counter-insurgency, wasn’t a cakewalk. “For me, this wasn’t easy,” says Swati. “My family belongs to the business class of Uttar Pradesh, where women are supposed to shoulder household responsibilities. I’m the first—and probably the last—from my family to join such a profession!” And Shikha speaks of what she has learnt: “Adapting to new climatic conditions is perhaps the most difficult thing we will have to get used to, but we have learnt how to cope through our exercises. We got the opportunity to learn one thing: face up to difficult situations.”

The battalion was trained at the ITBP counter-insurgency and jungle warfare school in Mahidanda in Uttarkashi. The recruits were then posted at various centres to familiarise them with different terrains across India. At present in Patiala, the battalion will be put through the last part of its training, modules on mountaineering and other skills. Then it will be time for action.