Indian Railways is handling its social responsibilities towards women personnel and travelers. Women employees in Indian Railways have shown the remarkable progress. Today, the women employees have registered their presence whether it is the loco pilot or guard or the responsibility of any high office.
There is more than 13 lakhs railway workers employed in Indian Railways, out of which there are more than one lakhs women, which is constantly increasing. Special safeguards are kept for women railway personnel to get the right environment at the work site.
Safety of Women travelers
Special arrangements have been made for the women travelers to travel freely without fear. Western Railway has provided the world’s first female local train, CCTV cameras / talkback system in women coaches, iWatch app for the safety of women passengers, which has been highly appreciated by women passengers.
CCTVs have been installed in more than 100 coaches of West and Central Railways through which women travelers can travel freely. Indian Railways is working on plans to install CCTV in all the coaches in the future to ensure the safety of all passengers.
Indian Railways has reiterated its commitment to provide sanitary pads to women, one step ahead of social responsibility. A campaign has been launched to install sanitary napkin vending machines at 8000 stations of the country.
Recently, Railway and Coal Minister, Shri Piyush Goyal and Chairman, Railway Board, Shri Ashwani Lohani visited the New Delhi-based sanitary pad making unit, run by Railway Women Welfare Central Organization, Railway Board. On this occasion, Shri Goyal said that such projects should be started in large numbers and the Railways should always be in the forefront in the activities of such social sector. Now, 400 napkins per day are being produced in this unit alone.
Ladies Quota
For the women traveling alone on the train, there are 6 seats earmarked in each sleeper coach and 3 seats earmarked in the AC 3 Tier coach. If the female quota seat is vacant, then it is allotted to female traveler in the waiting list. Provision of 6 berths in the AC3 tier class of Garib Rath Express train is earmarked for woman passengers.
Women operated stations
The Matunga Station of Central Railway becomes the railway station operated by the entire women staff, which also got its name registered in the Limca Book of Records. Matunga Road Railway Station of Western Railway is also going to make its position in the list of railway stations operated by women personnel from International Women’s Day.
The non-suburban Gandhinagar-Jaipur railway station has also recently joined the list of women-operated stations. Other railway employees are also entrusted with responsibility for running the station along with other responsibilities, which is a commendable step.
It is notable here that in March 2008, the Hajipur station of East Central Railway was a women-operated station.
Female ticket checking staff
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Mumbai Shatabdi Express’s full ticket checking staff are women. In the coming time, preparations are on to give women the responsibility of checking the entire tickets of other trains.
Ist Lady Loco Pilot and Guard
The work of women’s rail driver was considered to be a very challenging task. Surekha Yadav, first Lady Loco Pilot took this difficult task, three decades ago, Mrs. Yadav became the first woman rail driver of Indian Railways in 1989. Smt Vandana Chaturvedi from Bhopal joined as first Lady Guard in Indian Railways on 19 April 1990.
After this many women of the country have chosen this work and have done it well. Today many women railway drivers & guards are working in various railway zones. Apart from this, Railway women employees are taking up roles of Gang women, Supervisors.
Women railway employees in the sports world
In the world-class sports competitions like Women’s World Cup Cricket, Asia Women’s Hockey, Women’s Archery, Commonwealth, Asian Athletics, World Weightlifting Competition, Boxing, Women’s Archery, Kabaddi, women’s railway workers have illuminated the name of Indian Railways and the country. People still remember the performance of Women’s World Cup Cricket 2017. In this team 10 women railway personnel took important responsibility like captain, vice captain.
