PRESS RELEASE
On Army Chief’s Statement regarding inducting women in combat
role
The
National Federation of Indian Women-NFIW- strongly
expresses its objection to the reported statement of the Army chief
General Bipin Rawat that the Indian Army
is "not yet ready" for women in combat roles, citing non-existence of "facilities" and “ non- preparedness” of women for all
sorts of hardships. He also states that in
the Rural areas there is no intermingling.
The only “facility” the Army Chief explained is
related to intermingling of men and
women as colleagues .Its shocking to see that Indian Army Chief is not only
anti-women but has a very strong ‘Manuvadi
patriarchal mentality.
As the Army Chief is so narrow minded and orthodox
in his world view, and thinks that intermingling is a shame or a crime. His
comment on the people in the Rural areas is nothing but an insult.
NFIW is of the opinion that the Army Chief is
surrendering to Gender discrimination. The comment also shows that there is a
clear lacuna in the training imparted to Army personnel that they are
psychologically unable to accept women’s participation in the armed forces.
NFIW demands that the central government
should create conditions for women to join in Combat roles too.
Annie Raja
9868181992