‘Women Not Worth the Money’

February 01, 2010

By Shreyasi Singh

Much of India’s poor reputation on equality has been moulded by regular reports of sexual harassment, discrimination and negligence faced by its female officers. In 2006, a female officer, Lieutenant Sushmita Chakroborty, committed suicide, an act her parents say was prompted by overwork. More recently, in July 2009, an Army Court of Inquiry sacked a captain rank Army Service Corps female officer for levelling ‘false’ allegations of physical and mental harassment against her seniors. Several cases of such pressure to keep quiet-with the armed services accused of dragging their feet in investigations or shielding male officers-have come to light.

But, Renu Ratra, a former army major and now a human resource manager at a pharmaceutical firm, says she felt no more or less discriminated against than her male colleagues while in the army. ‘Yes, of course there are occasions when you feel the gender bias. But, doesn’t that happen everywhere?’ she asks. ‘There’s a little more of that in the army because the troops you lead are mainly from rural backgrounds and have limited exposure.’

Ratra resigned from the services after more than six years in the Army Service Corps, largely she says so she could raise her young son in one place rather than having to cope with the constant upheaval of new postings.

Commissioned in September 2002, Ratra says she did well, and was even graded as an alpha instructor who could train future officers. ‘You do need to put in that extra bit to prove yourself,’ she says. ‘I have to do that in my corporate job as well. But, if you are a performer, you can do it.’

But insiders say the odds are still stacked against female recruits, despite the fact that women are judged on more lenient standards of physical fitness. For a 5-kilometre run, for example, a male officer must finish in 28 minutes, while a female officer is given 40 minutes.

‘When women are in a junior position, they work well,’ says one Major, who has undertaken non-peace postings in Kashmir and the Northeast of the country, deemed two of the most critical operational regions for the Indian army. ‘But, their personality and conditions change drastically when they get married. The behaviour shown by the majority has not been very encouraging. Many women officers have not been up to the mark and [there have been] real problems as a result.’

However, he concedes that the debate over female officers is still one worth having, and he admits he has worked with female officers who have exceeded expectations and should, in principle, be allowed to further their ambitions. ‘With permanent commission now being granted, things should change. Women are also now supposed to do all courses and hold more appointments. This may groom them for real tasks.’