Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat Says Can’t Give Women Combat Roles in Army Due to Maternity Leave, Responsibility of Kids
In an exclusive interview, the Army Chief said he was ready to introduce women to combat roles but the Indian Army may not be ready for it as most jawans come from villages and they may not accept a woman officer leading them.
New Delhi, December 16: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Saturday said that the Indian Army was not ready at the moment for women to take up combat roles due to a number of reasons. Rawat listed maternity leaves, the responsibility of kids as some of the reasons why the army is not prepared to take women in combat roles. In an exclusive interview to news channel News18, the Army Chief said he was ready to introduce women to combat roles but the Indian Army is not ready for the same as most jawans come from villages and they may not accept a woman officer leading them. India One of The Largest Contributors in United Nations Peacekeeping Missions; Around 2,00,000 Indian Troops Deployed Till Date
The Army Chief said that the Indian Army was nor ready for women in combat roles as a woman officer would feel uncomfortable at the frontline to change clothes while on duty and accuse jawans of peeping while she changes clothes. Rawat said the orders are to give a woman a separate hut and to "cocoon her separately" and further said, "She will say somebody is peeping, so we will have to give a sheet around her." Moreover, he said, there are issues like maternity leave, which is not granted, will create a ruckus. Indian Army Will Not Hesitate to Launch Another Surgical Strike Against Terrorists If Need Be, Says Lt Gen Devraj Anbu.
During the conversation, Rawat said the Indian Army proposed to increase intake of women in more non-combat roles such as interpreters and cyber specialists. He said, besides, it also was mulling recruiting women for the military police, he told reporters here on the sidelines of the combined graduation parade at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal on the city outskirts.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 16, 2018 12:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).