Three women loco pilots of Western Railway were felicitated by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi on the occasion of International Women’s Day. Alok Kansal – General Manager, Western Railway congratulated Kumkum Nagendra – Loco Pilot Goods, Udita Verma – Senior Assistant Loco Pilot, and Kajal Gupta – Assistant Loco Pilot on this achievement. They all had recently run a freight train from Vasai Road to Vadodara.
According to a press release issued by WR’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Sumit Thakur, the Ministry of Railways had organized a felicitation ceremony, on the theme “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal feature in a Covid-19 World”. This program was live telecasted across all the zones of railways.
GM Alok Kansal along with Principal Heads of Department and Senior Personnel officers attended the program digitally in the conference hall at Churchgate. He motivated the women force by being part of the celebration and congratulated all the women on their march towards women empowerment.
Western Railway has always been a pioneer when it comes to providing various facilities for its women commuters, as well as empowering women. Many of WR’s women employees have carved a niche for themselves by taking on jobs that once were considered as a male domain.
Preeti Kumari the first motor woman of WR drove the ladies special from Bhayander to Churchgate, where she was greeted by the women commuters. In its unique endeavor to ensure women empowerment, WR’s Matunga Road station is manned by all ladies staff, which includes women working in the operations, commercial as well as security fields. Matunga Road station, as well as Dahisar station, are headed by women. The control tower at Bandra station is managed by a Lady Station Master, who also sees the real-time movement of trains.
WR has a woman pointsman at Dondaicha station near Nandurbar. There are several Track women working on WR, including on the suburban section. The amount of sincerity, grace, power, and upliftment that a woman brings is indeed a laudable achievement.
Thakur further added that an interactive program was organized at Headquarter office, Churchgate where Dr. Pradnya Ajinkya – Psychological Counselor gave a talk on ‘ Women Emancipation’. Keeping the Covid restrictions in mind, few women from each department attended the program and the rest were connected through a virtual medium. The women also spoke on the topic and there was a lively discussion on the same.
At Mumbai Central Division the women’s day celebration was marked with “Prabhat Pheri” holding Placards and Banners highlighting messages on women empowerment. This Pheri was from Mumbai Central station to Divisional Railway Manager’s Office. Nukkad Natak based on Woman’s Empowerment was conducted on Mumbai Central station’s FOB. Sakhi Bandhan was conducted at Churchgate, Vasai Rd, Andheri, and Borivali stations, where Sakhi Bandhan bands were tied by ticket checking staff to the lady passengers.
The yoga session was conducted in the train and methods to relieve stress, and meditation was taught to lady commuters. A ladies restroom was inaugurated at the Borivali Booking office. Sanitary Napkin Vending Machine has been installed at Vasai Road station. At Valsad railway hospital, a health awareness session was held, where the women were educated regarding illness related to the eye as well as about cervical & breast cancer. A health check-up camp on women-related health issues has been organized for the month of March. A function was organized at EMU car-shed Virar on the occasion of Women’s Day. The lady employees who were diligently performing their duty during the Covid pandemic were felicitated.
