LONDON: The record of British women in India improving the lot of British troops serving there is an honourable one, says the London “Times” today [Jan 8]. It is replying to the statement made both by serving soldiers and by visitors to India that imply that these women are not pulling their weight.

“But there are two weaknesses in the present position which together account for criticisms occasionally brought to light,” the “Times” continues.

“First, there is no national service act applicable to British women in India so that the community is not protected against indolence or selfishness of a small number of individuals who ignore the call, so cheerfully obeyed by an overwhelming majority. This situation may be eased, though not remedied by a process of registration now taking place.

“Secondly, there are far too few women to fill the posts in which British women are urgently required; and so long as posts remained unfilled, there will be complaints that women ought to fill them, whether the women exist in India or not.”

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2020