Three women flight cadets made history today as they were commissioned as fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force for the first time ever.
Bhawana Kanth, Avani Chatuvedi and Mohana Singh were commissioned in presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at a ceremony at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
Mr Parrikar termed as historic the induction of the first batch of the three women combat pilots. He said, this will open a forum for more and more girls to join combat areas of the armed forces.
The Defence Minister said measures will also be taken to recruit a woman instructor at the academy.
He said the government is taking measures to remove the gender disparity that is existing currently in armed force due to infrastructure and administrative reasons.
Earlier, the defence minister conferred President’s Commission behalf of the President of India, on flying Cadets Avani Chaturvedi from Madhya Pradesh, Bhawana Kanth from Bihar anwd Mohana Singh from Gujarat and 126 others and commissioned into service on their successful completion of various graduation courses conducted by the Indian Air Force and the Navy.
Later speaking to media the three women cadets who are on flying colours, said they are ready to take up any responsibility in the Air Force. Our correspondent reports that these women combat pilots will have to complete two more stages of rigorous training to take up solo combat operations.