MHA wants women with 'well-developed chest' in BSF!

The Ministry of Home Affairs while inviting applications for group ‘C’ posts of paramedics in the Border Security Force (BSF) in female category, mentioned that candidates need to have “well-developed chests”.

Taking note of this language, a parliamentary panel here on Thursday expressed “utmost displeasure”, saying such irrational language for female candidates was “unwarranted”.

The panel, headed by P Karunakaran said the language in the advertisement issued by the BSF was also “derogatory” in nature.

It was only when the parliamentary committee on subordinate legislation expressed displeasure at such a rule as calling females with well-developed chests, the home ministry acted swiftly to remove the minimum requirement of the chest size for the female candidates.

In a report tabled in Lok Sabha, the panel said the ministry wrote back that the issue was examined in consultation with the BSF and it has been decided to delete the words “since there should be no minimum requirement for chest for female candidates.”

The ministry also informed the committee that it also decided to carry out a general review of the recruitment rules of all central para military forces and to replace such words with “Not Applicable” in case of the female candidates.

The parliamentary committee recommended that the requisite amendment in the rules be carried out at the earliest and apprise it of the action taken. It also stressed that the general review of the recruitment rules for the paramilitary forces be also undertaken without delay “to remove infirmities including the usage of words which are derogatory in nature, especially in relation to female candidates.”