NEW DELHI – The Indian government has maintained before the Supreme Courtthat male soldiers of the country’s armed forces are not “yet mentallyschooled to accept women officers in command”.
It also said that women are not fit to be given ground combat roles in thecountry’s armed forces, *BBC* reported.
Last month, the apex court pushed the government to consider lifting themilitary’s official ban on women in combat roles – and to give themcommanding roles.
“Test them on [the] same footing as men. Do not exclude them [womenofficers] as a class. [A] change of mindset is required,” the court hadsaid.
However, the government’s lawyer last week told the apex court that malesoldiers are not “yet mentally schooled to accept women officers incommand”.
Then there were the “challenges of confinement, motherhood and childcare,”he added.
Women are still not allowed to serve in infantry and the armoured corps inthe Indian Army. According to 2019 figures, women comprise only 3.8% of theworld’s second-largest army.
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In 2018, former army chief and the current Chief of Defence Staff Gen BipinRawat told a news agency that there weren’t any women soldiers serving infront line combat positions because “a woman would feel uncomfortable atthe front line”.
He said maternity leave was an issue, women need more privacy andprotection, and that India was not yet ready to accept “body bags of women”killed in combat.
Rawat also said that women need to be “cocooned” from the eyes ofsubordinate soldiers. Rawat’s comments had sparked considerable outrage.
Article originally appeared in *BBC Newslink*
