Why, it is so ?

Nurses -VS- Nursing Officers is killing the ethics of human relation practice in the Army Medical Corps. Why and who is responsible for this trend? To blame individuals will tantamount to an array of creed discrimination and even if this is correct, individual contribution should not lead to Organisational discrimination. The problem is not with individuals but with the mindset that the society formulates over a period of time.

The Nursing profession is the only trade that the defence services do not recognise as Military Professionals but as an Auxiliary service that aids the ailing soldiers in peace operations and not during combat.

The worst part is that even the Political setup and the intellects have accepted Defence Services recommendation- that it's a service assisting the Military and should not be given a status akin to other Military personnel.

Where as the pay structure can be debated and that a difference may be made in the pay scales of the Doctors and the Nurses, the doctrine that they should be alienated from the mainstream of Military command structure is not justified .

The Armed Forces have gradually side stepped the Nursing Officers in various forms (a) By denying them the Olive Green Uniform, an administrative action upheld by the court of law, (b) Removal of Weapon Training, as they are non-combatants, (c) Denying them the Military status by calling them "Members of Military Nursing Service" and withdrawing even the Staff Car facility to the only Major General of the Nursing Services, (d) Taking away the power to write the Annual Confidential Report from the Principal Matron and vesting the same to the Ward Medical Officer, (e) Conferring that the Rank given to them is to provide protection from sexual harassment, (f) Not giving them the benefits of Bagga Commission recommendations and, (g) Providing lower weightage to service while calculating the pension of the Nursing Officers.

Mr Anthony, the Defence Minister plays the role of a silent spectator. The first women President has done little for them. The media has circumvented this issue so far and maybe at some point of time they will come to our rescue.

Will someone be Sane and prudent enough to listen to them with an open mind and restore their work place dignity.