New Delhi: Over 100 women train drivers have raised concerns over their safety and highlighted the lack of facilities after the Jhansi Railway Division recently issued an order directing them to work in all shifts at par with male drivers. Had given.
Before this directive, train duty was assigned to women drivers in such a way that they would either complete their journey and return home or reach the destination station before 10 pm and rest in the 'running room'.
The latest order by Jhansi division was issued on April 16 this year.
A section of women drivers has sent a written complaint in this regard to the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Jhansi.
“Now as per the new direction, we have been asked to be ready for work round the clock.We have requested the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) to reconsider the decision. We will face a big safety problem as the Railways does not provide any additional facilities to women drivers,” said a woman driver.
When contacted, a senior railway official of Jhansi division said the decision has been taken due to extreme work pressure.
“Till a few years ago, there were around a dozen girls in our division, but now their number has crossed 100. Since trains run round the clock, we can ask their male counterparts to compensate for their absence."Time. This increases work pressure on male drivers which is not good for safe TRAI operations."
He said, “I fully accept that women face a lot of challenges in running trains late at night, but we cannot provide facilities in the absence of any guidelines from the Railway Board. I think the board should bring a comprehensive guideline in this regard.
Women drivers said that Jhansi rail yard remains deserted late in the evening and it is not safe for them to come late at night to board the engine.“I request the Railway Board Chairman to visit the yard once and see how safe it is at night. Another woman loco pilot said, being a woman, I hope she will understand our problem.
Supporting the issue of women drivers, Sanjay Pandhi, working president of the Indian Railways Loco RunningMe organisation, said, "Railway authorities are violating the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act by issuing such an order. " As per the Act, the employer is obliged to ensure safe working conditions for all women workers, however, women loco pilots do not get pick-up and drop facilities.
The women drivers also said that the official order does not talk about any pick-up and drop facility for late night work.“This order of April 16 is causing immense stress and depression to many drivers which is not even safe for train operations. We are not taking away your job, but at least the Railways should ensure basic facilities for our safety and convenience,” said the woman driver.
Recently, women train drivers urged the Railway Board to either improve their "pathetic" working conditions or allow them to be transferred to other departments.
A group of women loco pilots, who are members of the All India Railways Federation, recently submitted a memorandum to Railway Board Chairman Jai Verma Sinha, highlighting their plight and demanding a “one-time cadre change option”. Went.
Lack of toilet facilities in the engines, inability to change menstrual pads, mandatory provision of getting out of the engine to deal with any technical glitches even at night and no pick-up and drop facility for late night duty, to name a few. There are problems that have been cited.Female train driver.
These women drivers demanded that if the Railways could not improve the working conditions then their jobs should be changed.
Before this directive, train duty was assigned to women drivers in such a way that they would either complete their journey and return home or reach the destination station before 10 pm and rest in the 'running room'.
The latest order by Jhansi division was issued on April 16 this year.
A section of women drivers has sent a written complaint in this regard to the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Jhansi.
“Now as per the new direction, we have been asked to be ready for work round the clock.We have requested the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) to reconsider the decision. We will face a big safety problem as the Railways does not provide any additional facilities to women drivers,” said a woman driver.
When contacted, a senior railway official of Jhansi division said the decision has been taken due to extreme work pressure.
“Till a few years ago, there were around a dozen girls in our division, but now their number has crossed 100. Since trains run round the clock, we can ask their male counterparts to compensate for their absence."Time. This increases work pressure on male drivers which is not good for safe TRAI operations."
He said, “I fully accept that women face a lot of challenges in running trains late at night, but we cannot provide facilities in the absence of any guidelines from the Railway Board. I think the board should bring a comprehensive guideline in this regard.
Women drivers said that Jhansi rail yard remains deserted late in the evening and it is not safe for them to come late at night to board the engine.“I request the Railway Board Chairman to visit the yard once and see how safe it is at night. Another woman loco pilot said, being a woman, I hope she will understand our problem.
Supporting the issue of women drivers, Sanjay Pandhi, working president of the Indian Railways Loco RunningMe organisation, said, "Railway authorities are violating the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act by issuing such an order. " As per the Act, the employer is obliged to ensure safe working conditions for all women workers, however, women loco pilots do not get pick-up and drop facilities.
The women drivers also said that the official order does not talk about any pick-up and drop facility for late night work.“This order of April 16 is causing immense stress and depression to many drivers which is not even safe for train operations. We are not taking away your job, but at least the Railways should ensure basic facilities for our safety and convenience,” said the woman driver.
Recently, women train drivers urged the Railway Board to either improve their "pathetic" working conditions or allow them to be transferred to other departments.
A group of women loco pilots, who are members of the All India Railways Federation, recently submitted a memorandum to Railway Board Chairman Jai Verma Sinha, highlighting their plight and demanding a “one-time cadre change option”. Went.
Lack of toilet facilities in the engines, inability to change menstrual pads, mandatory provision of getting out of the engine to deal with any technical glitches even at night and no pick-up and drop facility for late night duty, to name a few. There are problems that have been cited.Female train driver.
These women drivers demanded that if the Railways could not improve the working conditions then their jobs should be changed.
