https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Encouraging Women in Railways to Break the Glass Ceiling

Indian Masterminds Stories

Railways has traditionally been looked upon as a male domain. However, this view is gradually being replaced by one of gender neutrality as Indian Railways has been employing women in all its sectors. Railways’ Prayagraj division in Uttar Pradesh is one such example. Here, IRTS officer Sanjay Kumar has taken various steps to empower women and provide them with a safe and healthy environment to work in in order to encourage more women to join the railways.

From running an all-women train to spreading awareness through paintings and graffiti, Division Traffic Manager, Tundla, Mr. Sanjay Kumar, is adopting various ways through which he can empower women and, also, try to change the perception of people towards the fairer sex. Indian Masterminds got in touch with the officer to know more about his women empowerment initiatives.

EMPOWERING WOMEN

A picture was doing the rounds on Twitter where a few women, who were posted as points women at Tundla sub-division, were fixing the railway track and were performing all the duties of a ‘pointsman’. The incident received a personal recognition from the officer in charge, Mr. Sanjay Kumar, who posted it on Twitter.

He wrote on the post: “Tundla Railway Yard has one of the highest numbers of points women in our sub-division. They perform all the duties which pointsman does. Here they are in action.”

Speaking to Indian Masterminds, he said, “We have started a separate restroom for women staff where they can use sanitation facilities and can also rest if they feel tired. Similar initiative is being taken in all the railway stations under the Prayagraj division where such facility was not available for women.”

Entrance of Tundla railway station transformed

Similarly, the Tundla railway station has now been transformed by graffiti and paintings where strong messages and striking pictures are painted on the walls of the junction. In one photo, one can see women standing confidently in various professional outfits. “This will change the perception of people towards women,” the officer said.

Wall art on women breaking stereotypes

PROVIDING A SAFEGUARD

Railways operate at all hours, and for a smooth process, it requires people to work on rotational shifts. And the rule applies to the female staff as well. Doing night shifts raises security concerns and, also, creates inconveniences when travelling, especially if the workplace is far from home.

Motivating quotes for women empowerment

“As generally people have to work on rotational shifts as per their rosters, women have to participate in an equal manner. However, for their comfort and safety, we provide them preference on house selection. For example, the points women I posted in Tundla work in the night shift and are given houses near the station, so that they can commute easily to their home and also work in the night safely,” Mr. Kumar said.

ALL WOMEN CREW

Two years back, on International Women’s Day, a goods train was flagged off from Tundla Railway Station to Varanasi. It is nothing unusual to run a good’s train, but what was rare and amazed everyone was that it was operated by an all-women staff. The train was piloted by two female loco pilots: Archana Kumari and Nidhi Shukla. Bhanu Kshatri was guard and Bhagyashri, Pushpadevi were Traveling Ticket Examiners (TTEs). Not only this, but all the Railway Protection Force (RPF) constables on that train were women – Neha Pal, Rachna Patel, Pushpa, and Laxmi Singh. Such initiatives have led to more women choosing railways as a career option and, hence, the number of woman staff is gradually going up.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
SEBI
SEBI Appoints 3 New Executive Directors: Amit Pradhan, Avneesh Pandey & Sanjay Purao Take Charge
DelhiPolice
Top-Level Shake-Up in Delhi Police: 3 IPS Officers Reassigned Amid Security Concerns; Chahal Named DG, Civil Defence
mp
MP’s ₹3 Lakh Crore Infrastructure Boom: 255 km Greenfield Highway, ₹5,500 Cr Tiger Corridor Among Key Road Projects
FINNOVATION 2025
SBI & IIT Guwahati Celebrate FINNOVATION 2025 Winners in Gurugram, Empowering Young Innovators to Solve Banking Challenges
nitish-kumar
Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar Inaugurates Rs 44 Crore Six-Lane Pull-Up Ramp in Patna, Aims to Ease Traffic Congestion- Know More
CM yogi
UP: CM Yogi Inaugurates Two New Kalyan Mandaps in Gorakhpur, Emphasizes Accessible Celebration Spaces- Full Details Inside
CISF
National Security at Risk: Centre Opposes Supreme Court Ruling Curtailing IPS Deputation in CAPFs, Says IPS Presence is Crucial
sbk-singh-1753948795
IPS SBK Singh Appointed as Delhi’s New DG of Prisons After Brief Police Commissioner Stint
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
IAS SVR Srinivas on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Tough Calls, and the Real Power of IAS Officers | Video Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
Dharavi Redevelopment: IAS Minds Turning 100-Year-Old Slum into a Modern City | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
SEBI
SEBI Appoints 3 New Executive Directors: Amit Pradhan, Avneesh Pandey & Sanjay Purao Take Charge
DelhiPolice
Top-Level Shake-Up in Delhi Police: 3 IPS Officers Reassigned Amid Security Concerns; Chahal Named DG, Civil Defence
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT