Happiness is to be able to work

A woman is no ordinary; she is strong, bold, independent, versatile and an example for everything that shows positivity. Managing personal life and professional life is no game, but still, she doeswork with her heart, mind and soul. Given a job, it is her instinct to move forward and take up every work as a challenge.

The same has been proved in many surveys. On the occasion of International Woman's Day, let's celebrate the lives of the women whose places of work are not your regular offices or a classrooms.These women have dreams to achieve big in life and make an effort to run their families and excel at their work.

Women working in retail stores has become common these days, but have you even wondered how they manage work and home, considering they are on their feet literally every day at work. Well, let us hear it from a few women from Hyderabad, who work at popular supermarkets.

Managing a store is no game and Bhagyalaxmi, a manager at a supermarket in Bowenpally has mastered it and has her own story of happiness to share, "I am married and have two children. I have been working with the store from five years now. I joined as a CSA (Customer Service Assistant), then I was promoted as a cashier and now I am the in-charge of the store.

I work for nearly 10 hours in the store; I start my day early in the morning at 4 am. I make sure that I complete my work at home.As I am the only daughter for my parents; I look after them as it is my responsibility. I have dropped out of college midway during my intermediate and joined this store. It feels great to work here and grow despite my lack of a degree.

I am satisfied with what I get out of my work. Given an opportunity I would like to explore more in the same profession."Likewise, a young girl who has completed her schooling is a customer service assistant and is content that she works. Roopa a cashier a store stresses, 'It feels great to work here. Even though I have dropped my education after schooling this store has helped and trained me to be a cashier.

The timings here are flexible and we get four week-offs in a month. We are treated as a family and so it is more like a homely atmosphere here.'These days it is but a common feature to witness men and women service personnel at petrol pumps. We found one such petrol pump that went an extra mile to ensure that the maximum workforce is women.

Giving details about why more than half of the staff at the pump are women, the owner of the 'Hippo Campus Service Station', Davinder Kaur says, "Some of these women are working with me from past 15 years. They are like a support system for me. I never look or check their background before I give them the job. Empowering women is all what I want, and for me, somewhere being a woman, I feel that women are great, and they deserve everything.

I treat them as family and give my best to help them at any given time. Here woman get a positive vibe by celebrating festivals together; we even go on a holiday together, which keeps our relationship better. I like to see most of the woman work."

Swathi one amongst the service personnel shares, "I have been working here forthree years now. I looked at an advertisement displayed at the petrol pump and walked in. I have a son and my husband has been very supportive with the work I do. This work is different from the usual work that woman do. This place surely has given a rise in my professional life, though I haven't studied much."

'I feel privileged to do this work,' another employee of the petrol pump, Uma Rani seemed happy and was smiling all the time as she spoke about her work.Yet another young woman working at an ice cream joint shares experience of working, 'I have been working with the store since a long time now, I do not have a designation, or a set work assigned. It involves various responsibilities and I do all the work happily.

This place gives me my bread and butter. I have to take care of my parents and sisters as I am the eldest daughter for my parents. I wanted to pursue further studies, but I had to drop out while doing Intermediateas situations at home never allowed me. Since, I am the child earning for my family I give my 100 percent at my work place." One of the many things she manages is travelling back from work, which she does by ensuring she stays safe.

"This Woman's Day I would tell all the girls, who work like me to be safe and inform your family members where ever you're travelling,' she adds. Roza Saroj, a Swiggy delivery woman shares, 'This job is very flexible for me. I can take care of my personal and professional life smoothly. In other jobs I would not have this kind of flexibility. I discontinued my Graduation. There are many people who questioned me and often asked me to sit at home instead of working for such kind of job, but I always answer them that this is something that I like doing.