Women’s loco pilot convention seeks dignified life

The women’s convention organised by the All India Loco Running Staff Association at Erode has put forth a charter of demands to ensure a dignified life for women loco pilots in the Indian Railways. The demands include allowing washroom facilities during duty, providing water toilets in locomotives, constructing toilets near starter signals, stopping denial of leave during pregnancy and childcare leave, and allowing lactating mothers to return to headquarters after every trip while working goods trains.

They also sought proper resting facilities at running rooms and a separate crew lobby with washrooms for the lady running staff in all crew booking points. The name of “Internal complaint committees” at all lobbies, as required by law, has to be published. Besides, they also sought menstrual leave for the lady running staff and a gynaecologist in all railway hospitals on a daily basis, among other demands.

The meet was inaugurated by C.S. Sujatha, former Member of Parliament. Girija, Joint General Secretary, All India Insurance Employees Association, delivered the keynote address, while T.J. Maria Gorethy presided. Eighteen women loco pilots from two railway divisions in Kerala attended the convention, according to a statement issued by the All India Loco Running Staff Association here on Wednesday.