Fri Dec 06 20:06:42 UTC 2024: **Army Officer Highlights Shortcomings in Women Commanders’ Performance, Calls for Gender-Neutral Policies**
New Delhi, Dec 7, 2024 – A senior Indian Army officer has raised concerns about the performance of women commanding officers (COs), recommending a comprehensive policy on gender neutrality within the force. In a letter to the Eastern Army Commander and the Army’s Military Secretary and Adjutant General, Lt. Gen. Rajeev Puri, who recently completed his tenure commanding the 17 Mountain Strike Corps, detailed findings from a performance review of eight women COs under his command.
Lt. Gen. Puri’s review identified several recurring issues, including poor interpersonal skills, over-assertion of command, a misplaced sense of entitlement, lack of empathy, an exaggerated tendency to complain, and either over- or under-ambition. He attributed these shortcomings to factors such as a lack of specific commander training for women officers, preferential task allocation, the pressure of proving oneself in a male-dominated environment, and perceived gender bias.
To address these concerns, Lt. Gen. Puri proposed several remedial measures. These include the implementation of a gender-neutral policy by the Adjutant General’s branch, gender-neutral assessments of course performance at training institutes, and a review of the policy on spouse-coordinated postings. He also suggested minimizing the involvement of women officers in women-only empowerment roles, arguing that it may reinforce stereotypes.
The letter follows the Supreme Court’s decision to open command positions to women officers, excluding combat roles. Lt. Gen. Puri’s observations, while acknowledging some positive aspects, highlight the need for comprehensive policy changes and training adjustments to ensure the successful integration of women into leadership positions within the Indian Army.
First Piper 