For the first time in its 52-year history, the Punjab Defence Service Welfare Department is set to appoint retired women officers from the Armed Forces as defence services welfare officers, making Punjab one of the first states to take such a step.
Historic Appointment of Women Officers
Four women officers of the rank of Lieutenant Colonel have been shortlisted by the Punjab Public Service Commission after a written examination and interview, and appointment letters are expected to be issued shortly, according to sources.
Changes in Appointment Rules
The rules for appointment of officers in the department were recently amended, allowing former short service commission officers to apply, provided they hold the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or equivalent or above. This change enables officers to join at a younger age than permanent commission officers and serve longer.
Short service commission officers can serve for up to 14 years and can attain the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after about 11 years of service. By the time they are discharged on completion of their term, they would be about 40 years old. In contrast, permanent commission officers start retiring at the age of 54 years, depending on their rank and service.
Women in Armed Forces
The Armed Forces opened their doors to women officers in 1992 for the short service commission. Prior to that, service in the Armed Forces for women was limited to the medical stream, including the nursing service. Women in all three services are now eligible for grant of permanent commission.
Department Structure and Vacancies
The department is authorized one Director of the rank of Brigadier and equivalent, and 25 officers of the rank of Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel. One officer is posted in each district, while three are based at the department's headquarters in Chandigarh.
Currently, the department is functioning with just four officers besides the Director, who are handling work at the headquarters as well as overseeing district offices. The process for filling up the vacant posts, including the four women officers, is underway, and about 12 other officers are expected to join, sources said.
Reservation Policy Challenges
One issue in the appointment process is the reservation policy applicable to all state government departments. Posts earmarked for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and other reserved categories cannot be filled by general pool candidates in Punjab, unlike some other states where leftover reserved vacancies are filled by general candidates, sources pointed out.
