Proposal to make Salem Town an all-women railway station

If it materialises, the station will be the first in the division to be manned by all women employees. “Women staff will be deployed in the station to handle day-to-day activities, including ticketing, cleaning, train operations and security,” said a senior official of the railway station. 

The move by the Railways is aimed at boosting the morale of women employees and work towards their empowerment. “It would help to improve self-confidence among women,” said the official. 

The Salem Town station has been chosen for the new initiative based on various factors, including safety of women, public patronage and access to women staff. “Though a suburban station, it is located near the city, giving easy access for women staff. It is neither too crowded nor deserted and can easily be handled by women. Just a couple of express trains and a few passenger trains pass through the station,” said the official. 

The all-women station plan is in the pilot stage and the railways is yet to study the number of women staff requirements, besides the willingness of women to work in the station. 

“Only women living nearby would give agree to work in the station and those from far off places cannot be shifted under compulsion,” he said. 

The Railways has also been studying security aspects and handling emergencies, as it may become a challenging task for women to handle agitations organised in rail stations. Salem stations are prone to frequent agitations. 

The Railways is also planning to make one of the railway schools within the jurisdiction of the Salem Division an All Women Railway School.