In a first, the Border Security Force’s (BSF) all-women marching and brass band contingents will participate in this year’s Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path.
An Assistant Commandant rank woman officer and two subordinate officers will lead a total of 144 women BSF constables marching down Kartavya Path on January 26 when India will be celebrating its 75th Republic Day in the presence of Emmanuel Macron, President of France, as the Chief Guest.
The BSF calls it a ‘Mahila Foot Contingent,’ whose all participants belong to almost every state in the country. Of the total participants, a maximum of 27 belong to West Bengal, 10 each from Jammu and Kashmir as well as Punjab, 12 from the North East, and others from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and other states.
Besides the marching contingent, a 72-member brass band contingent along with a bandmaster and two assistant band masters will also be participating in the parade for the first time.
BSF’s women marching contingents are among those Central Armed Police Forces that are set to send their women contingents to march on Kartavya Path on this Republic Day.
The Ministry of Defence had last year asked all the forces, state governments, and departments participating in the Republic Day parade to have women participants in their contingents, bands, and tableaux.
Speaking to ANI about the participation of the women contingent, BSF’s 25th Battalion Commandant Kamal Kumar said the objective of the Government of India is to
ensure the maximum participation of women during the Republic Day parade.
“BSF’s women foot march as well as brass band contingents are being prepared to participate for the first time in this year’s Republic Day parade.
