The newly-appointed Municipal Commissioner of Greater Mumbai Subodh Kumar,on Thursday, approved the appointment of 38 women firefighters and eight women officers to be inducted into the Mumbai Fire Brigade.

For the past 15 years, attempts were being made without success to get women into the male-dominated agency in Mumbai. Women applied several times for jobs as firefighters, but their applications were rejected on the pretext that they would not be able to handle the task.

However, Kumar cleared the way for women in the organization. Mumbai Mayor Shraddha Jadhav and Additional Municipal Commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar had also worked hard in the last few years to allow the appointment of women firefighters.

According to sources, advertisements for the recruitment of women firefighters are expected to be published in local media next week.

Mumbai Fire Brigade Chief Officer Uday Tatkare said: “In the first stage we have been granted permission to recruit 38 women firefighters and eight women officers. This occasion is matter of pride and great honor in the history of Mumbai Fire Brigade. More women firefighters and officers would be recruited later this year,” he added.