Bhubaneswar: Odisha Fire Services will start recruiting women for field jobs after a proposal was sent to the state government for 15 per cent reservation in the service.

States such as Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan have already inducted women for fire fighting and rescue of drowning victims.

Officials in the Odisha Fire Services said no woman works as executive staff members - those working in fields such as firemen and station officers - while a handful of women work in the clerical department. The Odisha Fire Services has a manpower pool of around 5,600 at 333 fire stations across the state. Director-general of police (fire services) B.K. Sharma said a proposal had been sent to the government.

The state police force and the Odisha Industrial Security Force, created on lines of the Central Industrial Security Force, already have women in the services. The recruitment of firemen, equivalent to constable rank in police, is conducted through the department and recruitment of station officers, equivalent to sub-inspector rank, is conducted through Odisha Staff Selection Commission.

Women activists welcomed the move and said it would encourage women to take up the challenging job. "Women in the country have shone in various fields from defence to the corporate sector. They have proven themselves on par with men and would shine in the fire services as well," said Lokapriya Kanungo, a women's rights activist.

An official said the women, once inducted, would also be engaged in enforcement of Odisha Fire Safety and Fire Prevention Rules that came into force last October. "Women in fire service will assist in enforcement and seal of establishments occupied by women in a manner similar to woman constables," said a department official.