Issuing a code of conduct, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) barred women army personnel from keeping their hair open, using dark-colored lipsticks and wearing heavy jewelry items, among others.[break]
Provisions incorporated in the Army Code of Conduct-2010, which was prepared by MoD for the first time, states that women army personnel should not use heavy make-up when they are in army dress code.
The government passed the code of conduct in March last year. The code of conduct has been circulated to all the service members for effective implementation, said NA spokesperson Ramindra Chhetri.
“Our main aim to introduce the code of conduct is to bind the prestigious institution with some degrees of moral values and maintain a level of discipline. The code of conduct will bring simplicity by minimizing competition in terms of dress code, appearance and others,” said Defense Secretary Nabin Ghimire.
“Women army officers are not allowed to use lipstick, Gajal, different kinds of tikas including heavy bangles,” reads the provisions in the code of conduct. As per the newly introduced code of conduct, married women army personnel are allowed to use moderate types of tika, a pair of bangles, jewelry and ring.
“These provisions will help women army officers to abide by disciplinary norms while they are on duty,” said a woman army officer adding, "We should have our distinct identity given the preeminent position of our institution -the Nepal Army."
Women army personnel have taken the code of conduct positively. “The provisions incorporated in the code of conduct does not discriminate between man and woman," said a woman officer. "So, we have to welcome this move."
There are around 1,100 women army personnel including infantry and technical officers out of 92,753 army personnel in NA till last year, according to NA data.
One of the women officers quipped, “How do we look if we put on heavy make-up and leave our hair open while we are in army dress?”
The army code of conduct not only defines the dress code but also forbids the participation of any army personnel, except the Army Chief, in any dinner program hosted by foreign missions or international non-governmental organizations or foreign donors, without permission from the authorized officer.
Similarly, the recently implemented code of conduct says that no army personnel shall be asked to do ´any other job´ than prescribed in their duty.
Among many others, the code of conduct has set provisions under various categories like discipline and conduct, the kind of behavior that army personnel should show toward civilians, dress-code of army personnel, provisions under information dissemination, following the law, respecting the rights, and provisions under sexual exploitation and abuse.
“Those who breach the code will be punished accordingly,” Chhetri added.
Related story
Makeup mania: The art of extreme makeup
