In a First, Over 100 Women Join NDRF As Rescuers

NDRF Team. Image used for representational purposes. 

(Image: PTI)

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has inducted a woman’s batch of 100 disaster combatants and rescuers. This is a first, and these women have been deployed in Garh Mukteshwar town, Uttar Pradesh, reported PTI.

The women have been trained as complete rescuers according to NDRF director general S N Pradhan.

"Recently, the UP government requisitioned an NDRF team and they (women) went there (Garh Mukteshwar). The team handled the rescue boats and related equipments," Pradhan told PTI in an interview.

The move to induct women personnel in the all-male battalion has been in the works for a while, and over 100 women have joined the NDRF as sub inspector and inspector ranks in the past few months. They will be deputed after finishing the pre-induction course and training, reported PTI.

Pradhan expects the number of women personnel to increase beyond 200. He told PTI that women combatants have so far received positive feedback, and they will ‘add to the strength and skills of the force in rescuing disaster victims’ and the mitigation of calamity.

"If there is complement of women personnel it makes a great difference on the ground where women, children and old persons are being rescued,” PTI quoted him as saying.

Every NDRF battalion is authorised to have 108 women combatants.

(With inputs from PTI)