Women in Border Road Organisation: Trailblazers of Change

By R. Anil Kumar

• Border Road Organisation (BRO), since its inception in 1960 had only male officers due to the nature of task and isolated deployments for prolonged periods cutting roads in tough terrains under most treacherous weather conditions along our land borders

• Two decades back, handful of women officers started joining the BRO but was employed in staff appointments only keeping in view the hazards of the ground tasks

• Then a historical decision was taken by DGBR on March 8, 2021 to provide a gender neutral environment to women officers in line with current government’s theme of ‘Naari Sashaktikaran’

• On October 22, 2022 Prime Minister came to Mana village and laid the foundation stone for widening of this strategically important road till Manapass

Bangalore, March 8. Since its establishment in 1960, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was traditionally male-dominated, given the challenging nature of the work, which involved constructing roads in remote and harsh terrains under extreme weather conditions.

Initially, women officers were restricted to staff roles due to the perceived hazards of fieldwork.

However, in a historic move on March 8, 2021, the then Director General of Border Roads announced a plan to create a gender-neutral environment in alignment with the government’s Naari Sashaktikaran theme.

For the first time in the history of BRO, women were given command assignments. This was a game-changer, as women officers worked hard day and night to prove their mettle.

Their sincere efforts have not only accelerated project timelines but also served as an effective and inspiring model for other organisations to emulate.

The government has been actively promoting gender parity and women’s empowerment.

This push has been evident in various sectors, including defence and infrastructure development, where BRO plays a critical role.

This led to the appointment of the first female Officer Commanding, EE (Civ) Vaishali S Hiwase, to lead a Road Construction Company (RCC), undertaking the challenging task of constructing a road from Munshiyari to the Milam glacier in Uttarakhand.

Col Ponung Doming oversees the construction of the world’s highest road (19,400ft).Not long later, EE (Civ) Obin Taki was assigned as commanding officer of an RCC in Arunachal Pradesh’s Siang Valley, and Major Aaina Rana led an all-woman RCC in Chamoli, achieving remarkable success in developing roads to Mana Pass, the country’s second-highest pass.

These milestones were celebrated when Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for road widening in Mana village in 2022.

Later, Colonel Navneet Duggal, the OC of a field workshop deployed in Kashmir valley, became the first electronics and mechanical officer, and Lt Col (now Colonel) Snigdha Sharma became the first woman officer to head the BRO legal cell.

Their achievements highlighted the breaking of gender barriers and the setting of new standards within the BRO.

The momentum continued with Col Archana Sood’s and Col Ponung Doming’s appointments as task force commanders leading critical infrastructural projects in Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, and Hanle, Ladakh, respectively.

Notably, Doming oversaw the construction of the world’s highest road in the Chumar sector (19,400ft) and the highest fighter air base in the world at Nyoma.

Now, BRO offers women diverse employment roles, healthcare, adventure opportunities, and leadership positions, reflecting a significant shift towards gender parity and empowerment.

These women officers are trailblazers and are an inspiration for many women across the country to consider joining BRO in large numbers and perform to the best of their abilities.

All these women officers’ success and singular achievements while heading their sub units, not only shattered gender barriers but also set new standards of excellence within BRO.

The multi-faceted approach of BRO towards Women Empowerment includes variety in employment roles, avenues to grow in gender neutral environment, access to proper healthcare, opportunities for adventure/sports and encouragement to develop holistically, as they play the lead roles in all walks of life.

Celebrating “Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,” BRO supported landmark women-led adventure activities, showcasing their strength and spirit in diverse expeditions. Highlights include a multidisciplinary expedition involving mountain trekking, white water rafting, and cycling, an all-women electric vehicle rally promoting environmental consciousness.

BRO today firmly believes that women will always be active participants in the endeavour of Nation building.