Working 'seriously' to have women in combat roles: Sitharaman

New Delhi, May 7: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the government was working “seriously” to have women in combat uniforms — a vow which, if fulfilled, will bring gender parity in the Indian armed forces and enable women to be deployed on-board submarines of the Navy and tanks of the Army. “Women are keen to join armed forces in uniform. The Indian Air Force has already inducted women fighter pilots. About commissioning of women in the Army and related forces, several cases are being fought in various courts. In the Navy, women are not allowed in the sea, but we are working seriously towards opening up defence forces for women,” Sitharaman said. She was speaking at an event to release a Gender Parity Index for the year 2017-18, a special study commissioned by FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), the women business wing of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.