Following the examples set by Matunga and Ajni stations, New Amravati has now become the third all women run station in Central Railway and the first in Bhusaval division of Maharashtra. This achievement is special in more than one ways as it is the first project of DRM of Bhusaval Division, Ms. Ity Pandey, and she is also the first female officer to hold this position.
Ms. Pandey, who is an IRTS officer, joined the division on 18 July, and within one month, she managed to turn it into a ‘Pink Station’. Speaking with Indian Masterminds, she shared more details about Pink Stations.
FROM SECURITY TO POINTS WOMEN
The New Amravati station now has 15 women staff which includes four Deputy Station Superintendents (DSS), four points women, three RPF personnel, a ticket booking lady, one ESM (Electric Signal Maintainer) and a group ‘D’ female employee with them. All of them work in unity and collaboration. Talking about the need to do this she said, “Even though it’s a small station with footfall of around 400 people a day, yet security was an issue here. Many women would complain about the lack of it. So, instead of putting more RPF personnel, we thought of converting it into a pink station.”
This change has not only helped to cater to the needs of female passengers but also in the overall development of the station area and the railway colonies behind it. Women are able to approach the station staff with issues like maintenance of the colony, its roads and the park.
Besides the posting of all female staff, the new Amravati station has been given an aesthetic facelift with renovation and a fresh coat of paint.
When asked about the future transfers of staff, Ms. Pandey replied, “Generally, the transfers are done in four years. Also, our cadre is growing. In a recent Rojgar Mela, many women joined as DSS and points women. They are under training now. So, continuing with women staff won’t be an issue.”
VISIBILITY IS IMPORTANT
Ms. Pandey understands the importance of visibility. So, her next step will be to start a canteen with women staff. “Till now, there is no canteen here. We are now planning to take that up and it will be run by women only,” said the officer.
She further said that the first step was about involving the railway staff, but the future plan is to take up a big station, where apart from staff, the focus will be on roping in women as vendors also. However, since it is part of a private and commercial matter, the step will be taken as and when possible.
“Such things are very empowering not only for the people and women of the department, but also for the public in general. It sends a great message to society and I am hopeful that by the end of my tenure I will be able leave behind a more enabled environment in the stations in the division,” Ms. Pandey said.
Besides the Pink Station, Ms. Pandey has also accelerated the work under ‘Amrit Bharat Abhiyaan’. The renovation and earthing work has already been started in 9 out of 15 stations of the division.
