At helm of progress in rly’s Jodhpur div

Jaisalmer: Women serving in North Western Railways' (NWR) Jodhpur Division work as loco pilots, track maintainers, engineers, guards, station masters, khalasis (helpers), ticket examiners, members of Railway Protection Force (RPF), nursing staff, medical officers, and mechanical workers at diesel and locomotive sheds in such remote districts as Jaisalmer and Barmer.Many of them are also sportspersons, who have brought laurels to the nation and their states by winning medals in national and international competitions, NWR general manager Amitabh said during his visit to Jaisalmer Saturday.Amitabh said NWR had undertaken numerous initiatives for women empowerment at border and remote railway stations, including Jaisalmer, Barmer, Balotara, and other areas under Jodhpur Division. He said around 350 women employees serve on various posts in Jodhpur Division.Mentioning that the director-general (DG) of RPF was also a woman, Amitabh said that to strengthen the security system in NWR, women battalions had been established in the RPF and 237 women currently serve in them. They play a crucial role in railways' women's safety campaign, ‘Meri Saheli', Amitabh said.He said out of 2,864 women employees in NWR, 28 were loco pilots. He said the role of loco pilot is considered as the most challenging, requiring high alertness and readiness for 24x7 operations. He said women had performed duties as loco pilots excellently. In NWR, he said, 169 women serve as track maintainers, 155 as pointsmen, 79 as station masters, and 17 as train managers (guards).Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Women's day wishes, messages and quotes !