Guwahati: Border Roads Organization (BRO) is breaking free from decades-old norms by welcoming women officers into key leadership roles.

Officer Obin Taki took charge of a Road Construction Company (RCC) in the Siang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh, becoming a trailblazer in the process. Colonel Archana Sood took the initiative further by becoming the commander of a task force in Arunachal Pradesh in February 2023 - the first woman officer to lead such a force in BRO.

Colonel Archana Sood

The new initiative was spearheaded by the Director General Border Roads (DGBR), on March 8 2021 to provide a gender-neutral environment for women officers. Soon after, the first woman officer Vaishali S Hiwase was posted as Officer Commanding (OC) of an RCC on April 28, 2021, connecting Munshiyari to the Milam glacier in Uttarakhand's Kumaon region.

Vaishali S Hiwase, Officer Commanding (OC)

At the same time, Major Aaina Rana led an all-women RCC in Pipalkoti of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, from August 30, 2021, overseeing the development of roads up to Mana pass, the second-highest pass in the country after Umlingla, perched at 18,478 feet. 

Major Aaina Rana, the first woman to lead the BRO Unit

"Under her leadership, the RCC excelled, gaining recognition during the Prime Minister's visit to Mana village on October 22, 2022, for the foundation stone laying ceremony for the widening of the strategically important road to Mana pass", the BRO said. "The three platoon commanders under her were also women officers."

The momentum continued with Lt Col (now Colonel) Snigdha Sharma, who became the first woman officer to head the legal cell at BRO headquarters in New Delhi, the BRO said. "Handling over 700 court cases, she demonstrated efficient management and upheld the organization's legal integrity."

In June 2023, Col Ponung Doming was appointed to head a Task Force in Hanle, Ladakh, overseeing strategically vital projects, including the construction of the world's highest road at 19,400 feet in the Chumar sector.

Col ponung doming

Colonel Navneet Duggal, OC of a field workshop in the Kashmir valley, added to this legacy by becoming the first EME officer to command a workshop in the most challenging locations.

Colonel Navneet Duggal

"These women officers, serving as trailblazers, not only accelerated project timelines but also set an inspiring model for emulation, fostering a larger influx of women into BRO", a BRO spokesperson said. "The achievements of these women officers affirm the transformative power of inclusivity and empowerment in leadership roles."

Since its establishment in 1960, BRO has predominantly been led by male officers, owing to the challenging nature of tasks and isolated deployments in tough terrains under extreme weather conditions along the country's borders. However, a gradual shift towards inclusivity has taken place over the last two decades.

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