PATNA: An all-female team managed operations and maintenance at the
Patna
airport, various stations throughout Bihar, and power sub-stations on the occasion of International Women’s Day on Tuesday.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) assigned all duties to women employees to manage air traffic control (ATC), communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS), operations (terminal management and airside), finance, human resource, civil and electrical engineering, and other maintenance work.
The airport’s officiating director, A K Pathak, told TOI that a special health camp was organised for all female employees. “Altogether 189 women assumed leadership roles in all departments. A cultural event dubbed ‘Kalyanmayi’ was also organised for employees, their families, and children,” he said.
Meanwhile, the railways marked the occasion with great fanfare and enthusiasm in various locations under the jurisdiction of the East Central Railway (ECR). Women were given free hands to operate the Patna-Sasaram passenger train (03611), Danapur-Jaynagar Intercity Express (13236), and Dhanbad-Sindri special passenger train (03602).
According to ECR’s chief public relations officer (CPRO) Birendra Kumar, loco pilots Guddi Kumari and Richa Kumari received widespread applause from passengers at the Patna Junction when they entered the locomotive’s cabin and cautiously piloted the train while paying attention to signal points. The Patna-Sararam passenger train departed from the Patna Junction at 3.15pm, when woman guard Nivedita Pushkar blew the whistle.
“When the Danapur-Jaynagar Intercity Express arrived in Samastipur, loco pilot Chanda Kumari and assistant loco pilot
Saloni Kumari
assumed command. While
Sarita Kumari
was in charge of ticket checking, Anita Meena, Suman, and
Sangita Kumari
took command of railway security at Samastipur station on Tuesday,” the CPRO said.
ECR general manager Anupam Sharma felicitated national football players
Sanju
, Anju Tamang, Rashmi Kumari, Sashmita, and coach Ansha at a function held in Hajipur. Lithara K C, a national basketball player, was also honoured on the occasion.
Apart from these, seminars, quiz contests, painting competitions, debates, and special talks on women’s health awareness were also part of the celebrations in Sonepur, Samastipur, Danapur, Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, and Dhanbad divisions.
Meanwhile, the Karbigahiya power grid was managed entirely by an all-female team. Monika Kumari, an assistant electrical engineer, led the team.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, a programme was also held at Vidyut Bhawan for female employees of the power department. Women spoke with CMD Sanjeev Hans about their work experiences. Addressing the employees, Hans announced that work on a day-care centre and play school in Board Colony would begin on Bihar Diwas.