‘No changing rooms, want aprons as uniforms,’ say women workers in northern railways

Women workers of northern railway have written to the Railway Board saying that given the lack of changing room for them at most stations, their uniform should be restricted to an apron which can be worn over their regular clothes.

Sunita Dhiman, general secretary of the women’s wing of Uttariya Railway Mazdoor Union (URMU) wrote to Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani, requesting him to change the uniforms of the women commercial staffers primarily involved in booking and reservation of tickets.

Their uniforms are either a khaki salwar kameez or a shirt and pant depending on the category of work. The women commercial staffers have the board that they be provided just white aprons which can be worn on top of their clothes.

“There are no changing rooms for women staff at stations. We are just requesting the railway to provide aprons to us which we can wear over our regular clothes. It will save us time as well. Also, the quality of cloth supplied to us for our uniforms are transparent and of very poor quality. We can’t even wear them for long,” Dhiman told PTI.

In her letter, Dhiman said 93 women work at Delhi Railway Station, New Delhi Railway station and Anand Vihar Terminal, and they have all written letters in support of apron being the uniform.

In fact, she said, women staffers from across northern railways have the same problem with uniform.

“We have attached a sample photo of the white apron with name and batch along with the letter so that they can get an idea about what kind of uniform we are comfortable in,” Dhiman said.