Railways Ministry today said there has been an over five-fold increase in women loco-pilots in Railways. Railways had been a male-dominated sector due to its difficult operational challenges. However, women are breaking the glass ceiling in this sector too. Women have also entered the domains like Loco Pilots, Station Master, Trackmen, signal maintenance, Guards, and Gangmen. The present strength of women employees in Railways is over one lakh, which is about 8.2 percent of the total strength of Railways.
In 2014, there were 371 women loco pilots which has risen to 1,828 now. Most women loco pilots are from Uttar Pradesh followed by Telangana and Tamil Nadu. Surekha Yadav is the first Women Loco pilot in Asia.
Meanwhile, Indian Railways has decided to equip women personnel of the Railway Protection Force with chilli spray cans. This non-lethal yet effective tool will help women RPF personnel tackle challenging situations swiftly. This move reflects Indian Railways’ strong commitment to gender inclusivity, women empowerment, and enhanced security across its vast network.