ID :
73309
Sat, 08/01/2009 - 18:39
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/73309
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Endurance test for women porters raises hackles
Allahabad/New Delhi, July 31 (PTI) Indian Railways
have for the first time allowed women to work as porters but
the move has sparked a controversy with Woman and Child
Welfare Ministry Friday objecting to aspirants, including
those pregnant, being made to run with heavy loads on their
head to qualify for license.
In the first lot, 19 women appeared for the physical
endurance test conducted by Allahabad Division of North
Central Rail for the post of porters on Thursday, Chief Public
Relations Officer (CPRO) of North Central Railway Rajesh Dutt
Bajpai said Friday.
The physical endurance test requires the women to
carry a load of 25 kg and complete the distance of 200 metres
in not more than four minutes. "The load and the distance is
the same for both men and women though the time-limit for the
latter has been relaxed by one minute," the official said.
Disapproving of the method, Union Woman and Child
Welfare Minister Krishna Tirath said she had sought a report
from zonal railway authorities on the test.
"I am seeking details from the zonal railway
authorities about the procedure of appointment of porters
involving pregnant women," the Woman and Child Welfare
minister told reporters outside Parliament here.
Asked whether pregnant women too appeared for the same
physical test, the Railway official said that "all candidates
are screened by our medical team before the endurance test.
"They are allowed to proceed further only if their
health is not found to be fragile," Bajpai said.
The test also drew flak from other Memebers of
Parliament (MPs). Former Railway Minister Digvijay Singh said
it was not necessary and the Railways should have avoided it.
Filmstar-turned politician Hema Malini also
disapproved of the method saying, "It is not done".
"There are a total of 344 vacancies for porters in the
National Capital Region (NCR) zone, for which 4800 candidates,
including 27 women, had applied. After initial scrutiny, which
included a general inspection of physical well-being, 19 women
were allowed to take the physical endurance test," Bajpai
said.
He, however, made it clear that there were no posts
reserved for the fair sex and that the prospects of the women
who had undertaken the physical endurance tests "will now be
weighed against more than 4,000 other aspirants before the
selections is final".
Bajpai also pointed out that among both men and women,
who have appeared for the recruitment drive, many were
well-educated, some of them even graduates.
"We are, however, skeptical about such people's
willingness to accept the job. It must be noted that porters
are not appointed but only given licenses by the Railways. As
such, they are not entitled to salaries or other amenities.
Their earnings depend upon the fares they charge from the
passengers, as per the rates fixed by the Railways," he said.
PTI
have for the first time allowed women to work as porters but
the move has sparked a controversy with Woman and Child
Welfare Ministry Friday objecting to aspirants, including
those pregnant, being made to run with heavy loads on their
head to qualify for license.
In the first lot, 19 women appeared for the physical
endurance test conducted by Allahabad Division of North
Central Rail for the post of porters on Thursday, Chief Public
Relations Officer (CPRO) of North Central Railway Rajesh Dutt
Bajpai said Friday.
The physical endurance test requires the women to
carry a load of 25 kg and complete the distance of 200 metres
in not more than four minutes. "The load and the distance is
the same for both men and women though the time-limit for the
latter has been relaxed by one minute," the official said.
Disapproving of the method, Union Woman and Child
Welfare Minister Krishna Tirath said she had sought a report
from zonal railway authorities on the test.
"I am seeking details from the zonal railway
authorities about the procedure of appointment of porters
involving pregnant women," the Woman and Child Welfare
minister told reporters outside Parliament here.
Asked whether pregnant women too appeared for the same
physical test, the Railway official said that "all candidates
are screened by our medical team before the endurance test.
"They are allowed to proceed further only if their
health is not found to be fragile," Bajpai said.
The test also drew flak from other Memebers of
Parliament (MPs). Former Railway Minister Digvijay Singh said
it was not necessary and the Railways should have avoided it.
Filmstar-turned politician Hema Malini also
disapproved of the method saying, "It is not done".
"There are a total of 344 vacancies for porters in the
National Capital Region (NCR) zone, for which 4800 candidates,
including 27 women, had applied. After initial scrutiny, which
included a general inspection of physical well-being, 19 women
were allowed to take the physical endurance test," Bajpai
said.
He, however, made it clear that there were no posts
reserved for the fair sex and that the prospects of the women
who had undertaken the physical endurance tests "will now be
weighed against more than 4,000 other aspirants before the
selections is final".
Bajpai also pointed out that among both men and women,
who have appeared for the recruitment drive, many were
well-educated, some of them even graduates.
"We are, however, skeptical about such people's
willingness to accept the job. It must be noted that porters
are not appointed but only given licenses by the Railways. As
such, they are not entitled to salaries or other amenities.
Their earnings depend upon the fares they charge from the
passengers, as per the rates fixed by the Railways," he said.
PTI
