MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
(SHRI A.K. ANTONY)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.297
FOR ANSWER ON 3.9.2007
There have been only 3 isolated cases of suicide by Women Officers in the last 3 years in the Army.The details
regarding the three cases of suicide are as follows:
Sl. No.Name of the women officer Details of the individual Date of incident who committed suicide officer
1. Major Shobha Rani Army Medical Corps, posted 29.5.2006 at Command Hospital (Air Force) Bangalore
2. Lt. Sushmita Chakraborty 5071 Army Service Corps 15.6.2006 Battalion
3. Capt. Megha Razdan - 113 Engineer Regiment 1.7.2007
Every such incident is inquired into by a Court of Inquiry. The Courts of Inquiry conducted in the first two suicide
cases of women officers during the year 2006, have revealed that factors like personal reasons,depression and
psychological adjustment disorder etc. led to the incidents.
2.The following measures have been adopted by the Army to prevent such incidents:-
(i)Increased formal and informal interaction between senior and junior officers, improved accessibility of leaders and
frequent interaction of junior leaders with soldiers, better man management and prompt attention to grievances;
(ii)Strengthening time tested reporting and feedback system in the unit;
(iii)Liberalized leave policy to attend to domestic problems;
(iv)Identification and counselling of persons who show signs of stress by Regimental Medical Officers, junior leaders
and unit commanders.
(v)Psychological counselling by psychiatrists where required
(vi)Training capsules in relaxation exercise including yoga/meditation.
(vii)Post Army Medical Corps Junior Commissioned Officers as psychological counsellors who will interact with the
troops and alleviate their stress related problems.
(viii)Committees have been established at Army, Command, Corps and Divisional Headquarters level to monitor and
analyse stress related incidents and periodically review measures to be adopted. At Army Headquarters, the Committee
is headed by Director General (Discipline Ceremonial & Welfare).
3.Apart from the above, the following steps have been taken to address grievances specific to Women Officers:-
(a)Women officers are treated at par with similarly placed male counterparts in terms of recruitment, training, tenure of
service, promotion, pay and perks, leave, welfare measures etc.
(b)Commanders at all levels have been instructed to be more sensitive to the tasks being assigned to the lady officers
with special focus on
(i) providing an honourable working environment
(ii) being sensitive to the constraints faced by lady officers in performing certain specified tasks and
(iii) keeping in mind displayed aptitudes while assigning non-core duties.
(c)Women officers are provided with separate living accommodation in the Officers Mess.
(d)Adequate grievance redressal mechanism has been put in place to address complaints of sexual harassment and
other complaints of lady officers.
(e)Women officers are free to approach their Commanding Officers/Supervisors at any time to discuss their personal/official problems and seek immediate assistance.
(f)Instructions have been issued that displayed aptitudes of individuals
should be kept in mind while assigning non core duties to lady officers.
