Roadways gets its first woman conductor

Chandigarh, October 28

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A differently abled mother of two daughters has become the Haryana Roadways’ first woman bus conductor, thanks to the ongoing strike by the roadways employees forcing the government to launch a recruitment drive for drivers and conductors.

Sharmilla, 32, hailing from a village in Rewari district, had been looking for a job for long to support her family and got it amid the ongoing strike, which has turned out to be the longest-ever strike by roadways employees.

“My husband and I were unemployed. We are raising two daughters. I had been looking for a job for the past 8 to 10 years and when I learnt about this vacancy, I applied and got the job,” she said.

Clad in a pair of jeans and a shirt, Sharmilla has been performing her duties after joining the Rewari depot on Wednesday. “I am happy now. I am getting good support and respect from the people. They appreciate what I am doing,” she said.

Sharmilla said she faces 40 per cent disability in one of her legs, but she has never let it stand in her way. “I am Haryana’s first lady conductor and I am so happy to get this job. I have joined my duties three days ago and have learnt most of the things related to ticketing,” said Sharmilla.

Sharmilla is among the two women who were recruited as bus conductors, the other one being Nirmala Rani, who has joined duty on the Sirsa-Ellenabad route. Earlier this year, 30-year-old Archana had become the first and only woman driver of the Karnal city bus service. — PTI