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In March 2010, the Delhi high court directed the government to grant permanent commission to 50 women officers, stating that greater gender sensitivity was required in the armed forces. Of these who filed their petition, 22 women officers from the Air Force have been granted a choice of permanent commission on a one time basis. The remaining 28 however, who served in the Indian army must wait endlessly while the top brass 'studies the order'. Well into their forties, these women continue to wait for justice, even as precious days go by.
It was in 1992 that the Indian army began intake of women in roles other than as doctors and nurses. As an officer inducted in the Women Special Entry Scheme (WSES), they could serve for a contractual period of five years extendable to a maximum of 14 years. Although the government order was implemented, at the unit level, the men in olive greens were not prepared or sensitised to have women serving in their midst.
It was not easy for the first few courses of 25 women officers each to march into an organization that had been an exclusive men-only territory. These women had to break stereotypes and prove themselves, especially since doubts were raised about their acceptance by troops and their capability as effective military leaders. Gentlemen officers were also uncomfortable with other aspects - their training period at the Officers Training Academy, was shorter at 6 months when compared to 9 months for the gentlemen cadets. Their physical standards were also lower than that of gentlemen cadets.
In 2006, to reduce feeling of disparagement and resentment among the male officers and to put both men and women on an equal footing, their training period was increased to 11 months which was at par with the men. They were also allowed entry through the Short Service Commission (SSC), as officers, for an initial contract period of 10 years, extendable to 14 years.
Through the years, women officers have worked dedicatedly to be accepted and treated at par with their male counterparts. They handled all types of weapons, lived in field locations, and stretched beyond themselves in physical fitness tests, to earn the respect of their colleagues and the men they commanded. They also braved hostile mindsets, sexual innuendos and patronizing attitudes. Their courage, determination and dedication however, have not yielded much result as the army is still undecided as to what the future holds for them.
'Low comfort level' which translates to non-acceptance of women officers by the troops has often been quoted as the reason for reinstating that the army can 'do without them'. As leaders, women bring with them greater sensitivity and higher emotional maturity due to which they take better decisions in the interest of the troops. They have also been known to highly prioritize welfare measures that help maintain high morale of the troops. Since they succeed in striking the right balance between discipline and welfare, there have been instances when women company commanders have been preferred by both, the troops and commanding officers, over their male counterparts.
'Extra resources to accommodate women in field locations' is another oft repeated concern by the top brass. Former army chief, General VP Malik stated, 'The Indian armed forces cannot do something socially unacceptable. Would you want your wife or sister to share a bunker with five other men like they do in Siachen?'
Due to their physiological needs, extra resources may sometimes be required to accommodate women in field locations, but this problem has more to do with the sheer strength in numbers than anything else. Currently the ratio of gentlemen officers to women officers in the Indian army is approximately 35:1 (this does not include the all-male troops). With a larger strength of women however, it would be easier to share resources and use them to the optimum.
Our cultural milieu is also undergoing changes. The Supreme Court in March 2010, gave a verdict that makes the hitherto frowned upon live-in relationship acceptable in our society. It wouldn't then take very long for us to come to terms with the fact that women may have to share bunkers or tents with men when resources in field locations are limited.
'Employability of women officers' has also been stated as a cause of concern among senior officers. Unlike Canada, France, Germany, Norway and a few other countries that allow their women in active combat roles, in the Indian army, women so far have been inducted only in non-combat or support roles such as in the Army Services Corps (ASC), Army Ordnance Crops (AOC), Army Education Corps (AEC), Judge Advocate General (JAG), Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME), Engineers, Signals and Intelligence. These jobs mostly entail administrative, skill based or managerial work, which can easily be undertaken by women officers. In these corps, more than the brawn element, it is the various skill sets such as man management, computer, material management and training that form the core and women have been found to be more proficient here than many of their male counterparts.
Perhaps in justification, in 2009, the defence ministry decided to accord permanent commission to women officers in the Education (AEC) and Legal (JAG) branches. A permanent commission would enable them to draw pension after a service of 20 years and also rise to senior ranks. While the move was commendable, it was also unjust to the women officers serving in the other corps, since they would be forcibly evicted after their termination of the 14 year contract.
The army reasons that like doctors and nurses, those inducted in the AEC and JAG branches, came with professional qualifications and hence were suited to play specialized roles. What has not been highlighted is that every officer is constantly trained to be able to efficiently carry out requisite duties. This scenario is akin to saying that a doctor is a professional but a logistics manager is not. Considering the nature of work in the other support arms, it can thus be countered that women in support roles can and must be given the option for permanent commission.
It is an irony that despite a woman being the supreme commander of the armed forces, women in the army must continue to endure gender insensitive treatment. As a citizen of the largest democracy of the world, we need to give equal opportunities to every individual, irrespective of the gender. Unlike the middle ages, in the 21st century, we no more follow exclusively gender specified roles. Women today are breadwinners, they fly planes, drive cars, travel alone and are independent in every sense of the word. We live in an age when men take it as a compliment to be called metrosexuals.
Rather than discriminate based on gender, it would therefore be a much more mature stance to induct individuals based on their physical fitness, mental capability and aptitude for work. A woman has as much right as a man to feel patriotic and make army her career, if she so desires. If found dedicated and proficient, she must also have ample opportunities for growth in the service.
Army is an institution, steeped in tradition, perhaps the reason why new ideas and changes take much longer to be implemented or accepted. Two decades are long enough for most equipments procured to be decommissioned but it does not seem enough to accept deserving women as an important part of this work force.
It is time to move over mere tokenism and accept women as an integral part of the organisation. Women officers should not be denigrated to such an extent that they are left with no choice but to move court so as to demand equal opportunities as their male counterparts. In the modern day technologically advanced army, physiological differences do not in any way hinder its overall efficiency. Rusty mindsets need to change though and our army needs to get comfortable with women serving in support roles first, before they can be considered for combat roles.
Equal opportunities at work place is an important index of the growth of a nation. The army functions in the best interest of the nation and it is pertinent that only the most competent and deserving individuals be able to wear the coveted stars, their gender notwithstanding. It is about time that dynamic young women with patriotic fervour no more feel disillusioned when they look at Indian army hoardings on streets that scream, 'Do you have it in you?'
Sajita Nair is a former army officer and the author of 'She's a Jolly Good Fellow', an engaging novel about women officers in the Indian army. She can be contacted at mail@sajitanair.com.
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