The world’s largest employer, Indian Railways, is undergoing a sea change as more and more women join key operating roles. In the past ten years, their numbers have risen steadily to over 1.13 lakh, now holding 8.2% of the jobs, up from 6.6% in 2014. This steep surge is part of a broader pattern of inclusivity and equal opportunity in the railways.
Breaking traditional barriers, women are taking over top spots. A stark example is the five-fold increase in women loco pilots and station managers in the past 10 years. Today, 2,162 women are driving locomotives, 794 train managers (guards), and 1,699 manage railway stations in India. Their occupation of these top-most positions is not symbolic but unavoidable to the proper functioning of one of the planet’s biggest train networks.
Beyond operations, females are making big inroads in administrative and upkeep grades. Indian Railways have 12,362 women occupying office grades and 2,360 as inspecting officers. Even in railway track maintenance, a bastion of men, 7,756 women ensure the smooth operation of trains. Passenger services also contain an active women’s presence with 4,446 ticket collectors and 4,430 ‘pointsmen’—a profession now being reworded by women. The numbers reveal increasing self-assurance and knowledge among women in various railway departments.
Fostering gender equality, the Indian Railways have introduced all-women railway stations such as Matunga, New Amravati, Ajni, and Gandhinagar, which indicate the increasing leadership of women in the sector. Managed by women, these stations indicate their ability to carry out complex tasks while maintaining the message of empowerment and independence.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while responding to a question in the parliament, reiterated that recruitment in the railways is strictly on merit basis without giving any importance to the gender factor. The policies of the government are aimed at providing equal opportunities to all the aspirants from whichever section so that they can contribute towards strengthening the industry.
While the government works to make Indian Railways a world-class transport ferrying 2.3 crore commuters every day, the women are proving their mettle. Their greater involvement is ushering in a new era of empowerment and integration and is providing an entry point for generations of women to clear more obstacles on the rails of progress. With continued support and policy-driven action, women’s contribution to Indian Railways will continue to grow larger, projecting their pivotal position in the country’s transport backbone.
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