New Delhi: Another glass ceiling has been broken in the Indian Army with a mother of two becoming the first woman jawan.
Outperforming her male counterparts in the physical tests, 35-year-old Sapper Shanti Tigga joined the 969 Railway Engineer Regiment of Territorial Army (TA).
“Women are allowed to join the armed forces only as officers in the non-combat units. But Tigga has earned a unique distinction of being the first lady jawan in the 1.3 million strong defence forces,” a senior army officer said.
“She performed exceedingly well in all the physical tests. She took five seconds less than her male counterparts to complete 1.5 km run. She completed the 50 meter run in 12 seconds which is rated as excellent,” he said.
Employed with the Indian Railways as points-man posted at Chalsa station in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district, Tigga volunteered for the TA last year. (PTI)