Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI) for Girls achieved another milestone as its alumni, Haroop Kaur and Nivedita Saini, were commissioned as Flying Officers in the Indian Air Force. The distinguished ceremony took place at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal (Hyderabad), and was graced by the presence of Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC.
Flying Officer Haroop Kaur, set to join the Education Branch, is the daughter of Bhagwant Singh, a Head Constable in Punjab Police from SAS Nagar (Mohali), while Flying Officer Nivedita Saini, joining the Logistic Branch, hails from Pathankot District, with her father, S. Harinder Singh Saini, serving as a Principal in a Government School.
The success of Haroop Kaur and Nivedita Saini has been hailed as a significant achievement for Punjab’s daughters by Mr Aman Arora, Punjab’s Employment Generation, Skill Development, and Training Minister. He expressed confidence that their accomplishments would inspire more young women from Punjab to pursue careers in the defence services.
The Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, has been steadfast in its support of young women aspiring to serve as commissioned officers in the armed forces. In July 2023, the government established an NDA Preparatory Wing for Girls at Mai Bhago AFPI, now training its second batch of cadets.
Mai Bhago AFPI, managed under the Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development, and Training department, boasts a fully residential campus equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, making it a unique institution dedicated to preparing young women for careers in the armed forces.
Reflecting on this achievement, Major General Jasbir Singh Sandhu, AVSM (Retd.), Director of Mai Bhago AFPI, expressed pride in the accomplishments of Haroop Kaur and Nivedita Saini. He emphasized that their success would further bolster efforts to encourage more young women from Punjab to join various armed forces pre-commission training academies.
As Haroop Kaur and Nivedita Saini embark on their careers as Flying Officers in the Indian Air Force, they carry with them the hopes and aspirations of a state committed to empowering its daughters in the pursuit of excellence and service to the nation. Their journey stands as a testament to the dedication and perseverance fostered at Mai Bhago AFPI, shaping the future of women in India’s defence forces.
