The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said it has taken several initiatives to empower women and enhance the role of women in the field of work.
Along with other parts of the world, NF Railway has also celebrated the International Women’s Day 2021.
As part of celebration, a seminar with the theme ‘Choose to Challenge’ has been organized at NFR Headquarter on Tuesday with participation of a good number of women employees.
NF Railway general manager Anshul Gupta was present in the seminar and awarded some women employees of different departments with certificate of appreciation in recognition of their outstanding performance and to inspire other women employees.
Various other events will also be held from March 9-12, 2021 which includes training session on ‘Capacity Building of Railway Women Employees through Information & Communication Technology’, said the chief public relations officer of NFR, Subhanan Chanda.
Celebration of Women’s Day assumes significance because the railway is employing a good number of women as employee every year, Chanda said.
“The women employees are performing tough field jobs like train driver, guard, gateman, track maintenance duty, TTE, train examination duty, RPF, technician, welder etc. braving scorching sun or rain at par with their male counterpart,” the NFR official said.
“NFR has taken various steps towards women empowerment and enhancement of the role of women employees in the field of work,” he added.
With the focus to instil pride in women, Coach Maintenance Depot, Guwahati has engaged all-women gang for maintenance work at pit line and sick line, Chanda said, adding, “It has been done for first time in Indian Railways.”
Women staffs are engaged in various rake examination duties such as air brake testing using RTR, changing safety strap, changing brake block, maintenance of brake calipers, comprehensive checking of trolley at pit line in Guwahati.
The women staffs were imparted classroom training over the various concepts of maintenance work involved in a train with the existing technicians.
Nomita Sonowal, technician at Dibrugarh Workshop, has been engaged in operating surface wheel lathe and vertical turret lathe machine while Arfin Ara Begum, technician at Dibrugarh Workshop, has been engaged in operating horizontal milling machine.
Rekha Rani Mondal, welder at New Bongaigaon C&W Workshop, has good knowledge of working in MIG and TIG welding machines.
“Good numbers of women track maintainer staffs over NFR are engaged as gateman and for other track maintenance works,” the NFR official said.
Meanwhile, NFR sport persons like Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, OSD (Sports); Sanjita Chanu, travelling ticket inspector and Bhagyabati Kachari, technician, II/DSL, have won many accolades for the country and they have become an inspiration for many other female athletes to take up the sport, Chandafurther said.