Mysore/Mysuru: The Mysuru Division of South Western Railway (SWR) celebrated International Women’s Day in a novel way by running an all-women crew of a train yesterday.

The authorities decided to run Train No 06535 Mysuru-Solapur Golgumbaz Express with all-women crew, comprising loco pilot and assistant loco pilot, guard, ticket checking staff and security personnel. Through this they wanted to stress railway’s commitment to create a gender equal workforce to achieve all-round development of organisation. 

Divisional Railway Manager of SWR Mysuru,  Rahul Agarwal, President of South Western Railway Women Welfare Organisation (SWRWWO) Pooja Agarwal and other members of SWRWWO  flagged off the train.

The DRM felicitated the women crew who operated train at Mysuru City Railway Station. As part of the day-long celebrations, the Mysuru New Goods Terminal Station was managed by all-women staff comprising operations and safety staff.

Agarwal said over 10 percent of the workforce in the Division are women and the primary focus was to bring about a qualitative change in the work culture by creating a gender equal environment. 

 The DRM reminded women employees that work speaks more than words and called upon everyone to excel in their respective fields so that there would be perceptible change in the standard of service provided by Railways.

 A. Devasahayam, Additional Divisional Railway Manager (General), B. Srinivasulu, Additional Divisional Railway Manager (Infrastructure & Operations), all the branch officers and staff attended the function.  

Onboard women crew consisted of Sirisha, Loco Pilot, M.V. Indupriya,  Assistant Loco Pilot, Anusha, Guard, Gayathri, Deputy Chief Ticket Inspector, C.L. Rini, Sr. Ticket Examiner.  

The Ticket Checking Squad comprised: Anitha, Dy. Chief Ticket Inspector, S.N. Rajeshwari, Dy. Chief Ticket Inspector, Thippavva Sannakki, Dy.Chief Ticket Inspector, Railway Protection Force (RPF) Women staff Renuka, Head Constable and K.L. Navya, Constable.                     

The International Women’s Day programmes at Divisional level was inaugurated by Pooja Agarwal, President, SWRWWO.

 Speaking on the occasion, she said though women have made tremendous progress in all fields, they need to empower themselves and a call to motivate and influence others with whom they come in contact.  

A seminar on ‘Women Health and Nutrition’ by Dr. K. Sowmya, Associate Professor and Consultant/ Obstetrics and Gynaecology, JSS Medical College was also conducted. Cultural, sports competitions and various other entertainment programmes were held to build a gender equal workplace and to salute the spirit of women empowerment in all spheres of working. 

Felicitation

The DRM felicitated 14 women employees for their exemplary work during the COVID 19 pandemic period. Pooja Agarwal honoured 13 meritorious women employees of Mysuru Division who have excelled in their duties. Similar recognition of outstanding women employees was done at different stations of Mysuru Division.