Meet the 'gangwomen' of Railways

WOMEN ON TRACK: And for all their efforts, the gangwomen get paid Rs 5,000 a month.

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Rajdeep Sardesai

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New Delhi: The Indian railways' success story is firmly on track, in more ways than one. Fuelling this dream-run in their own little ways are the Indian Railways’ "gangwomen".

Most of these women were employed on compassionate grounds by the Railways after their husband's deaths.

Draupati is one of the many such gangwomen. Her husband died two years ago, leaving her to fend for herself and their four children.

She started working as a gangwoman, cleaning the rail tracks of mud, glass and garbage.

It's hard work but she does it to make sure her children don't have to follow suit.

"I want them to study so that they become doctor, police men or something but for that they have to study,” says Draupati.

With accident related deaths alarmingly high – approximately four to five people die per month in the Northern Railway Zone alone - it's a job that could prove deadly for them as well

However, the women are not to be unfazed. "Accidents keep happening, women get cut by the moving trains," says another gangwoman Taradevi.

Dangerous or not, these women need the employment to support their families.

Many of them can't afford a train ticket themselves, but they make sure that the tracks remain safe for those who can.

And for all their efforts, they get paid Rs 5,000 a month.

But they're thankful for what they receive, because in the past this wasn't even an option for them.

These women work six days a week through the year for a job that is so strenuous in nature that it was reserved for only men prior to 1980.

But behind the tough exteriors, hide the hearts of mothers who just want to do right by their kids.