Sujata Bhujbal along with her daughter. (TNN)
NEW DELHI: Practically three many years in the past, in a groundbreaking transfer that defied social norms and shattered gender boundaries, Sulochana Devi, Kusuma Om Prakash, A Masthanamma, P Sridevi and Savitha Manjula took on roles historically reserved for males. As the primary batch of ladies conductors in state-run buses, they paved the best way for future generations, difficult societal stigma. On Worldwide Ladies’s Day, these trailblazers, together with 44 different feminine conductors and drivers, had been honoured by ASRTU, the apex physique of state transport undertakings below the ministry of street transport, for his or her inspiring contributions.A number of the first-generation girls conductors and drivers TOI spoke with shared the challenges they confronted when beginning their jobs, together with managing a various vary of passengers and the dearth of correct public amenities for ladies. Whereas they talked about that male drivers have by no means been a problem, they consider deploying extra feminine drivers could be a constructive step ahead.There are solely 300 drivers and round 19,000 girls conductors working in state transport undertakings. Whereas a majority of those drivers are in Delhi Transport Company and Maharashtra State Highway Transport Company, almost 7,500 girls conductors are employed with Andhra Pradesh and Telangana SRTCs.Giving freely the awards, first girl IPS Kiran Bedi threw a problem to state transport undertakings and ladies drivers and conductors to deploy solely feminine workers in buses operated late at evening in city areas, contemplating that ladies really feel unsafe to take buses after darkish.Single guardian Sulochana Devi, who works with Karnataka State Highway Transport Company (KSRTC), mentioned, “Since I was a child, I was keen to learn driving; my brother taught me car driving. I had some family problems, and I needed to take care of my children. I joined KSRTC where I was trained to drive bus as well. I have been a driver-cum-conductor since 1999.” Her son works as a software program engineer in a international farm in Bengaluru. Sulochana mentioned, she confronted a number of challenges initially, however might overcome them along with her dedication to stay to the job.
Sitting along with her, two different girls achievers, Kusuma and Savitha, mentioned they’ve been educated to take care of passengers and the introduction of CCTV cameras in buses has made the state of affairs higher. “We urge the state transport undertakings to give rest to women drivers and conductors during their periods,” they added.P Sridevi, who was among the many first few girls conductors to hitch ASRTU after her father, a bus driver, handed away throughout service, shared that the job was thought of a social stigma, as many believed it was meant just for males. “We faced difficulties due to the lack of proper resting areas. My mother would wait at the gate if I was late. Managing a child was also a tough task, but thanks to my mother, I was able to manage. At times, we had to firmly tell male passengers to behave properly in public transport,” she mentioned.
Sridevi was accompanied by her relations when she acquired the reward. Her daughter, P Madhuri, who’s aspiring for civil providers, mentioned, “My mother leaves home before sunrise and returns after sunset. It’s a tough job, and she has done all this only for us. I want her to take a rest now, but she enjoys her job.”The expertise isn’t any completely different for Sujata Bhujbal, the primary girl driver with the Brihanmumbai Electrical Provide & Transport Enterprise (BEST). “When I took up this job, many questioned it because they didn’t want women in this role. But I have proven them wrong. When I’m in uniform, I feel empowered, and people show me respect. Every SRTU must have a uniform,” she mentioned. “Though my daughter, who is pursuing electrical engineering, wants me to retire once she completes her studies and gets a job, I won’t leave. BEST has given me so much,” she added.
