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Sikh women bus conductors make a statement
WSN Network

LUDHIANA: Finally, it took four Sikh women to join a jo that has remained the bastion of men for no reason. For the Diaspora, it would seem such a little trifle, but the idea of women bus conductors almost does not exist in Punjab. These four women in Punjab have taken up the job of bus conductors with a private service provider. Gurpreet Kaur, who is 30, joined as a conductor three months ago. Belonging to Ludhiana, her father was also part of the transportation sector. “I have two children but face no difficulty in balancing work and family. Having passed the secondary level, I got the basic training by the department,” she said.

Having harboured dreams of leading an adventurous life, she said she enjoys the support of colleagues and also the bus passengers. “They are very pleasant and it feels good to be respected.”

The simple statement tells a lot about the condition of liberalism even in Punjab.

For 32-year-old Manpreet Kaur, her experience as a bus conductor has been so encouraging that she wants other women to follow suit. In the profession for the past four months, Manpreet has been appointed on the route from Mohali to Faridkot and Faridkot to Mohali via Ludhiana. “Sometimes it’s difficult to handle the elderly when they argue. Otherwise, it’s all very comfortable.” Basically from Amritsar, her marriage brought Manpreet to Ludhiana. Interestingly, even the bus drivers concede that lady conductors are much more polite and easier to work with.

13 August, 2008
 

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