BSF women band to debut in R-Day parade

BSF is also gearing up for a busy winter along the Pakistan border in Punjab.

- RAHUL CHHABRA

An all-women band set up by the Border Security Force (BSF) recently is likely to be the highlight of the BSF’s marching contingent on Republic Day next month. The 30-odd musicians in the woman band of the BSF, along with other participants like the force’s camel contingent and the motorcycle-borne daredevils, promise to add glitter to the 2024 celebrations that will be attended by French President Emmanuel Macron as chief guest.

Taking forward the initiative of improving women’s participation, the BSF has also decided to increase their deployment in the force by including an all-women horse-mounted team for patrolling along the Punjab frontier.
“Women sub-inspectors and constables are undergoing training and they would soon be deployed in horse-mounted patrolling along the Punjab frontier,” said an official.

At present, just 5% of personnel in the border force are women in each of its 18 battalions in Punjab but this figure is likely to be raised gradually, he said.