Women on the Rise: Indian Railways Enroute An Inclusive Future

By: WE Staff

Women's significant role in Indian Railways has led to change, empowerment, and progress, ensuring the smooth functioning of one of the world's largest railway systems.

Namo Bharat, a new semi-high-speed train service, is set to revolutionize India's rail travel landscape, following the success of Vande Bharat. The train will cover 25km between Duhai and Meerut and will include four stations, ensuring seamless passenger connectivity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first Namo Bharat train service, aiming for completion of the Delhi-Meerut track within 1.5 years, marking a significant regional connectivity milestone.

The respective train acquires all special features but what makes it stand out is that it comprises of a female workforce which leads the country towards inclusivity and gender diverse place. Namo Bharat, an INR 30,000 crore rail project, aims to revolutionize inter-city connectivity between Delhi and Meerut by offering premium travel experiences with high-quality seats and Wi-Fi facilities. The train introduces a new era of modern rail travel, combining technology, comfort, and social progress, offering efficient, sustainable, and inclusive travel experiences for Indian travelers.

Gender Diversity in Indian Railways

Gender roles have been redefined and traditional boundaries have been broken by the inclusion of women in the Indian Railways. The long-term myth that railways are male male-dominated sector is no longer prevalent as Indian women are now highly placed and play a crucial role in the success of the respective area.

Women work as front-line employees for Indian Railways as locomotive pilots, station managers, and ticket collectors. They excel in these positions, which were previously thought to be exclusively held by men, and they show resilience. The paradigm change has destroyed gender biases that still exist in many industries while also improving the effectiveness of railway operations.

Surekha Yadav: A Testament to Women’s Rise in Indian Railways

In March of 2023, Surekha Yadav became the very first loco-pilot in Asia to operate the Vande Bharat Express. Launched in 2019, the Vande Bharat Express is a high-speed intercity electric multiple-unit train in India. The Prime Minister flagged off nine new trains in September 2023, aiming to improve connectivity and provide world-class facilities to rail passengers.

Surekha Shankar Yadav is the senior-most female locopilot (train driver) of the Indian Railways in India. In 1988, she became the first female train driver in India. When Mamata Banerjee, the former railway minister, introduced the "Ladies Special" local train to the four metro cities in April 2000, she was the first driver for Central Railways. She became Asia's first female train driver on March 8, 2011, International Women's Day, when she took the Deccan Queen from Pune to CST.

As the first woman to operate the recently introduced semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express train, Surekha has added another title to her list. She was the operator of the semi-high-speed train that started from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to Solapur station.

With initiatives such as women-led workforce of Namo Bharat and resilient women like Surekha Yadav operating high value trains, the Indian Railways in making great headways into an inclusive future.