NEW DELHI: Nearly three decades ago, in a groundbreaking move that defied social norms and shattered gender barriers, Sulochana Devi, Kusuma Om Prakash, A Masthanamma, P Sridevi and Savitha Manjula took on roles traditionally reserved for men. As the first batch of women conductors in state-run buses, they paved the way for future generations, challenging societal stigma. On International Women’s Day, these trailblazers, along with 44 other female conductors and drivers, were honoured by ASRTU, the apex body of state transport undertakings under the ministry of road transport, for their inspiring contributions.
Some of the first-generation women conductors and drivers TOI spoke with shared the challenges they faced when starting their jobs, including managing a diverse range of passengers and the lack of proper public facilities for women. While they mentioned that male drivers have never been an issue, they believe deploying more female drivers would be a positive step forward.
There are only 300 drivers and around 19,000 women conductors working in state transport undertakings. While a majority of these drivers are in Delhi Transport Corporation and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation, nearly 7,500 women conductors are employed with Andhra Pradesh and Telangana SRTCs.
Giving away the awards, first woman IPS Kiran Bedi threw a challenge to state transport undertakings and women drivers and conductors to deploy only female staff in buses operated late at night in urban areas, considering that women feel unsafe to take buses after dark.
Single parent Sulochana Devi, who works with Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), said, “Since I was a child, I was keen to learn driving; my brother taught me car driving. I had some family problems, and I needed to take care of my children. I joined KSRTC where I was trained to drive bus as well. I have been a driver-cum-conductor since 1999.” Her son works as a software engineer in a foreign farm in Bengaluru. Sulochana said, she faced several challenges initially, but could overcome them with her determination to stick to the job.
Sitting with her, two other women achievers, Kusuma and Savitha, said they have been trained to deal with passengers and the introduction of CCTV cameras in buses has made the situation better. “We urge the state transport undertakings to give rest to women drivers and conductors during their periods,” they added.
P Sridevi, who was among the first few women conductors to join ASRTU after her father, a bus driver, passed away during service, shared that the job was considered a social stigma, as many believed it was meant only for men. “We faced difficulties due to the lack of proper resting areas. My mother would wait at the gate if I was late. Managing a child was also a tough task, but thanks to my mother, I was able to manage. At times, we had to firmly tell male passengers to behave properly in public transport,” she said.
Sridevi was accompanied by her family members when she received the reward. Her daughter, P Madhuri, who is aspiring for civil services, said, “My mother leaves home before sunrise and returns after sunset. It’s a tough job, and she has done all this only for us. I want her to take a rest now, but she enjoys her job.”
The experience is no different for Sujata Bhujbal, the first woman driver with the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking (BEST). “When I took up this job, many questioned it because they didn’t want women in this role. But I have proven them wrong. When I’m in uniform, I feel empowered, and people show me respect. Every SRTU must have a uniform,” she said. “Though my daughter, who is pursuing electrical engineering, wants me to retire once she completes her studies and gets a job, I won’t leave. BEST has given me so much,” she added.
