No fighting chance: Military study advises against women in combat

NEW DELHI: A study conducted under the supervision of the country’s three defence chiefs has advised against including women in combat roles, “where chances of physical contact with the enemy are high”. Activists have slammed the suggestion as male chauvinism.

Defence Minister AK Antony apprised the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday of the study commissioned by the Chiefs of Staff Committee “on all aspects related to women officers in the armed forces, including induction in combat roles”.

According to the minister, “The study has suggested that women officers should be excluded from close combat roles at present.” The committee is India’s most powerful military organisation, which counts the three defence chiefs among its members.

Colonel Lakshmi Sahgal, who is among the last Indian women to see active combat in the 1940s, said the decision “reflects the mindsets of the military top brass”. Sahgal was with the Indian National Army of Subhash Chandra Bose.

Sahgal told DNA that she was convinced, and has witnessed herself, that women are “fit for combat duty”. Compared to women who join the army today, the INA women, who fought the British, had “very low nutritional standards”, she said. Yet they fought bravely, and on many occasions better than men, even in the face of heavy aerial bombing.

Sahgal’s daughter and senior communist leader Subhasini Ali said the recommendation was anachronistic. “It speaks of their prejudice. Would they say that a way to stop rapes is to prevent girl children from being born?”

Compared to other modern militaries, women in the Indian military have a very narrow role. They are offered permanent commission in medical and nursing services, the Short Service Commission, and other peripheral wings. But they are not allowed into the key battle areas of the infantry, artillery, and armoured corps. In the air force, women are allowed to fly transport aircraft and helicopters but not fighters. In the navy, they are not posted on ships.

Dr Ranjana Kumari, director, Centre for Social Research, said the defence minister must “look around and across the world” to see how other modern militaries have allowed women to fly fighters and serve in combat zones and on ships. “Their judgement reflects their mindset — one that simply looks at a woman’s competence at every stage,” she said.

A senior army officer told DNA that the “induction” of women into combat zones would “bring in a new dimension”, and the military had to be “sensitive” to it.

A defence ministry official said the recommendation “is still under consideration” and a final decision is yet to be taken. He said the ministry is discussing the possibility of “extending permanent commission to women in additional wings”.