The recent recruitment process for the posts of Forest Ranger, Deputy Ranger and Forester by the Haryana Government has become an issue of controversy. In this, the condition of chest measurement prescribed for females is being demanded to be repealed by the opposition saying that it is insulting and insensitive to women, while the government has made it a prestige issue.  Accusations and counter-accusations are being made from both the sides, no one is paying any attention towards the solution. After all, why is the government adamant on making it a point of ego?

According to the condition set by the government, the minimum chest requirement for women for the above posts – 74 cm without expansion and 79 cm with expansion, has been made necessary. The opposition alleges that when the Haryana government does not impose any chest condition for the recruitment of women even in the police force, then why this condition in the lesser hard jobs in the Forest Department? The government is pleading  its own arguments.

Randeep Singh Surjewala, a national congress leader and Member of Parliament, condemns the step of the government stating this a shameless, humiliating, insensitive and cultureless order to “measure breasts” of daughters of Haryana for the post of Forest Ranger and Deputy Ranger. He asks that when there is no such condition in Haryana Police and Central Police forces for women candidates, then why such a cruel, childish and stupid condition to insult the daughters of Haryana?

Stating this a Tughlaqi order, Surjewala demanded to withdraw this order and apologize to the daughters.

Former Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda stated in a tweet, “The decision to measure the chest of women candidates in the recruitment for the post of Forest Ranger and Deputy Ranger is an insult not only to Haryana but to every woman in the country. Government should withdraw this objectionable decision.”

Hooda further tweets, “Recruitments have been taking place earlier also. But till date such objectionable parameters have never been adopted even in police recruitment.”

On the other hand, justifying the decision of Haryana Government, a government spokesperson on 8 July said, “Haryana Government is undertaking the process of recruitment to the posts of Rangers and foresters in the State through the Haryana Staff Selection Commission and this recruitment is being done on the basis of Haryana Forest Service (Executive) Group C rules, 1998, wherein the physical standards for height and chest for both males and females have been prescribed.”

Giving support to the government step, spokesperson added that in the past also, all such recruitments have been done on the basis of these physical standards. Consequent to these rules 22 female Forest Guards and 4 female foresters have been recruited from time to time using these physical measurements. The adjoining State of Punjab is also keeping physical measurements for height and chest in case of both male and female candidates in the matter of recruitment of forest field staff.  

Addressing a press conference on July 10, Haryana School Education, Forest and Tourism Minister, Kanwar Pal said that the questions raised by Congress leader, Randeep Singh Surjewala over the recruitment of Women forest rangers is baseless.

“Opposition has made a habit of protesting for everything. Like every time, this time too, they are raising questions over these recruitments just to mislead people.”  

He said that this rule has been in force since the year 1998 and in the year 2013, the Congress government was in power, on the basis of the parameters of these rules, Forest rangers were recruited.

“It is not that we have introduced or framed these rules. Recruitment is being done on the basis of these rules in 7 states of the country including Punjab, and Himachal. But it seems that some people have a job of opposing everything our government does. We have started a fair and transparent process for recruitment and such people are trying to mislead the public. Congress is filled with negativity,” said Kanwar Pal.

 Instead of making it an issue of political debate, the government should decide on a logical basis, keeping its ego battle aside, why minimum chest standards are necessary in these posts? Do the holders of these posts have to do any such difficult work which is more difficult than the police force? Has any medical board determined that if women with breasts measurements lesser than the specified criteria are selected, it will be a great loss to the department?

As the government is arguing that they are following the path decided and adopted by the earlier governments, so does it also want to repeat the recruitment scams done by previous governments? If any condition or criteria is not correct at present and objection is being raised on it, then why not change it? If the government wants to follow the old patterns only, then why was Article 370 removed? Why the central government is adamant to bring UCC?

Considering the matter with a cool mind, the government should either cancel this condition of chest measurement or explain with reasons why this condition is necessary, so that the anger growing among the common people can get a logical and satisfying reason.

“Don’t give the chance to the public or opposition to say that this BJP government does repeal and surrender, but after a discredit.”   

Jag Mohan Thaken is a Haryana based retired Senior Bank Manager, views are personal