General Rawat considers women at frontline on conditions

New Delhi: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Friday reached out to all women aspirants who wish to join men in a frontline combat role asserting that equal opportunity comes with equal responsibility. General Rawat said, "it is up to women to decide if they they are willing to join men in a frontline combat role without separate and additional facilities."

Mentioning that when out on tanks, the men cook and sleep under the tank, he also pointed out that the women who would be joining their male counterparts should also keep in mind that that there are no toilet facilities when out on patrol.

"All army-men sleep under the tank and if the women folk are willing to accept it... If they are willing to move out in that environment, the women folk themselves need to take a call," said the army chief. He further said, "Once the women are willing to take this kind of call, we will address this issue."

Addressing his first annual conference here after taking over as Chief of Army Staff General Rawat said, "I have always said that we have to consider society as a whole. If we induct women into combat role, they will have to share equal responsibility like their male counterparts... Which means that they will have to perform exactly the same task."

It may be mentioned that while Indian defence forces induct women into the Corps of Engineers and Signals, they have been left out of the Infantry, Armoured Corps and Mechanised Infantry. The IAF has inducted women into combat role, but postings at forward bases are unlikely.