Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat while talking to a news channel gave some strong statements about women in the army. On the sidelines...
Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat while talking to a news channel gave some strong statements about women in the army. On the sidelines of appreciating the AirForce Passing Out Parade of Women, he said, "We are looking for more women in all roles in the defence". Prior to which he was recorded on National Television saying that Women can't be given combat roles in the military.
Talking about women in the force, he said, "We are gradually expanding the Indian army to women. I am also looking at women jawans in the military force; women joining as soldiers in the military police service and then we will see whether there is any scope for expansion later".
In the news channel's interview, he was reported saying that he himself was ready to have women in leading and combatting roles parallel to the male jawans. But, he states that the Army is not. Considering most of the jawans from a village background, they would not appreciate or handle a woman leading them to war.
Firstly the Army Chief was not talking about Women's inability to handle the situation. But, the surrounding company that which is not ready to accept. Army has women in various other jobs, but none at a front line job. To this question, Chief says, " We have not put them there because we are engaged in proxy fights, like in Kashmir".
Giving an example, hypothetically, chief goes like this. In a battle against terrorists, women are put on the front line, where a firefight takes place and chances of having casualties is high. But, the women are already aware of the risk. What if, she has a 2-year-old child back in the country waiting for her.
Our country can not handle such mothers coming in body bags. Flying a fighter jet is fine, but not handling a military tank? To which Chief responds by saying, "Anything worse can happen anywhere, we might meet it on the roads as well". But too many casualties on par with the male jawans to too much to handle now.
Chief Rawat went on to give an example of how it is with the men and women working together in the US. They are treated alike and are not isolated to extremes. If at all they have to change clothes in the same place they would do it without any apprehension. This is not the scenario in the Indian Army.
Chief says, there were complaints of fellow male jawans peeping into the isolated women cabins and women asking for more protection internally. On top of that, the Army chief cross-questions the interviewer. "I make a woman Commanding Officer. She is commanding a battalion. Can that lady officer be away from her duties for 6 months?"
To which the News Presenter says, "No". Chief continues, "Then what happens? Do I put a restriction on her to say that in that command tenure you will not be given maternity leave? If I say that, there will be ruckus created". So, it is not that women are not ready or the chief is not ready, it is the army that which is not ready for a full-time combat-ready women officers.
(Watch the video here)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyN6hI4usyQ
Talking about women in the force, he said, "We are gradually expanding the Indian army to women. I am also looking at women jawans in the military force; women joining as soldiers in the military police service and then we will see whether there is any scope for expansion later".
In the news channel's interview, he was reported saying that he himself was ready to have women in leading and combatting roles parallel to the male jawans. But, he states that the Army is not. Considering most of the jawans from a village background, they would not appreciate or handle a woman leading them to war.
Firstly the Army Chief was not talking about Women's inability to handle the situation. But, the surrounding company that which is not ready to accept. Army has women in various other jobs, but none at a front line job. To this question, Chief says, " We have not put them there because we are engaged in proxy fights, like in Kashmir".
Giving an example, hypothetically, chief goes like this. In a battle against terrorists, women are put on the front line, where a firefight takes place and chances of having casualties is high. But, the women are already aware of the risk. What if, she has a 2-year-old child back in the country waiting for her.
Our country can not handle such mothers coming in body bags. Flying a fighter jet is fine, but not handling a military tank? To which Chief responds by saying, "Anything worse can happen anywhere, we might meet it on the roads as well". But too many casualties on par with the male jawans to too much to handle now.
Chief Rawat went on to give an example of how it is with the men and women working together in the US. They are treated alike and are not isolated to extremes. If at all they have to change clothes in the same place they would do it without any apprehension. This is not the scenario in the Indian Army.
Chief says, there were complaints of fellow male jawans peeping into the isolated women cabins and women asking for more protection internally. On top of that, the Army chief cross-questions the interviewer. "I make a woman Commanding Officer. She is commanding a battalion. Can that lady officer be away from her duties for 6 months?"
To which the News Presenter says, "No". Chief continues, "Then what happens? Do I put a restriction on her to say that in that command tenure you will not be given maternity leave? If I say that, there will be ruckus created". So, it is not that women are not ready or the chief is not ready, it is the army that which is not ready for a full-time combat-ready women officers.
(Watch the video here)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyN6hI4usyQ
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