Handling a tough job

Thamma Madhavi, mother of two children, not only created a history of sorts but also proved that women can do tough jobs when she became the first woman guard in South Central Railway (SCR) zone to operate a goods train.

Even though more and more women have started competing men in almost all sectors of employment due to the advancement of society and economy, there are still some jobs and professions left for the fairer sex to make a mark. Guard duty is one of those tough jobs the women seldom prefer.

Madhavi joined the Railways on compassionate grounds after her father's death in 2008. She did her schooling in Railway School, Kazipet and later completed graduation in Hanamkonda. Initially, she was given the job of Pointsman which involves handling of railroad points or switches and controlling the lever that jerks the train into the required tracks.

She passed departmental exam for the post of guard in December 2017. Although she completed a 41-day training session required for the guard post, Madhavi had been associated with the freight operations information system (FOIS), a management information system (MIS) used in Railways for its freight business, till a couple of days ago.

Even though there are women guards in the department, the authorities depute them to other duties as the job is fraught with danger. A guard operating goods train requires spending long hours alone in a tail-end caboose where amenities such as water, lighting and fan are absent.

Travesty is such that since the times of British, there is no change in the fate of guards. Guards operating goods trains have to carry adequate water both for drinking and other purposes, because there is no availability of toilet in the guard's cabin. The only communication mode they have is a walkie-talkie.

In the nights, the guards have to scribble rough journal book and the combined train report (CRT) with the help of torchlight. We can say that guard duty in a coaching train is relatively easy compared to that of goods train.

Sharing her experience with The Hans India, after her first day as the guard, the 38-year-old Thamma Madhavi said, "First and foremost, I have to thank Kazipet AO K Poornachandra Rao, who encouraged and instilled confidence in me that I can do this job. Importantly, I was given day duty in a goods train, laden with coal, bound for Sanath Nagar in Hyderabad on March 13. In return journey, I was given pilot duty in the coaching train, Charminar Express."