R (Bihar): An all-woman team of railway officials made history on Saturday
when the entire operation of the Hajipur railway station in Bihar was handed
over to them. Yesterday, the operations began smoothly at the railway
station.

"We are happy and upbeat. It is a big opportunity for us to prove that an
all-women's team of officials is not inferior to an all-man's team as far as
rail operations are concerned," said Kusum Kumari. She is posted as the
assistant station master at Hajipur railway station of the Sonepur division
of East Central Railway, about 30 km from Patna.

She said that they were confident of performing their duty with
accountability and full responsibility. "We are thankful to the top brass of
the Indian Railways for showing confidence in us," said Kusum, standing
upright in her railway station master's dress.

Revati Kumari, another member of the team at the station, said it was a new
beginning not only for them, but also for women as a whole.

"It was a bold decision of the Railways when they handed over entire rail
operation to an all-woman's team," Revati said.

Similarly, Asha Devi and Ginni Kumari, both traffic porters, said they would
not disappoint the passengers and would try to give their 100 per cent to
their duties.

Chief Public Relation officer of East Central Railway A K Chandra said that
right from assistant station master to train ticket collector, from traffic
porter to reservation supervisor, the entire operations at the station was
under the control of women.
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