Indian Railways takes another step towards women empowerment with the handover of Jaipur’s Gandhi Nagar station to an all women crew. With an appreciative tweet from the United Nations, this station is one of a kind.
All operations including maintenance and security are done by women. Ticket seller, ticket collector, station master, sanitation and cleaning staff, security, etc. are all filled by female employees only. With over 40 women as it's on ground staff, this station has upped its efficiency rates by a large leap.
In only one month, 520 travelers without tickets were detained by security in comparison to the 64 that were detained in the same month last year. A usual day at this station includes the passage of 50 trains out of which 25 halts here. With a daily commuter rate of over 7000 people, this station remains quite busy throughout the day.
The people have stated that their experience has improved significantly since the change was implemented at this station in regards to faster services, smaller queues, cleanliness, and strict security and surveillance.
In order to aide female commuters, a woman only police station has been inaugurated within the station to help with security. Washrooms have been furnished with sanitary napkin vending machines and cleanliness is a priority to promote women’s hygiene.
Matunga Railway station of Mumbai is also run by an all-women staff but they come under the sub-urban category while the one in Gandhi Nagar comes under the mail line category.
The main reason to take such an initiative is to give women a means to participate in the development of the country as well as in the development of themselves as individuals. With only 27% of the country’s workforce being female it is important to engage in such measures to stride towards gender equality in the country.
