Photos: Manju Devi is the first woman coolie at Jaipur Railway Station
Updated On May 28, 2018 10:14 AM IST
At the Jaipur Railway Station, Manju Devi stands apart from others in her fraternity, holding the distinction of being the first woman coolie (porter) of North Western Railway, a profession that is considered a male bastion. Devi has taken on the demanding task of hauling luggage for passengers after acquiring her deceased husband Mahadev’s porter license no. 15. The sole breadwinner for her three children, Manju’s efforts were recognised by the President earlier this year, with her inclusion among 112 women achievers felicitated for setting a milestone in their respective fields.
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Updated on May 28, 2018 10:14 AM IST
Manju Devi looks on as she shares a relaxed moment with her male colleagues in Jaipur, Rajasthan on May 20, 2018. Devi stands tall in her fraternity, as the first woman porter of the North-West Railways, in a profession that is considered a male bastion. (Arun Sharma / PTI)
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Updated on May 28, 2018 10:14 AM IST
Manju Devi lost her husband 10 years ago. Overcoming family disputes and psychological hurdles, and encouraged by her mother Mohini, she acquired her husband Mahadev’s porter license no. 15 and took over the demanding task of hauling luggage at the Jaipur Railway Station. (Arun Sharma / PTI)
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She is the sole breadwinner for her family of three teenagers, all now pursuing their education. Authorities initially told Manju Devi that there were no women porters and hence it would be difficult for her working as one. But she persisted and was eventually given the badge number. (Arun Sharma / PTI)
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A set of Railway porter Manju Devi's uniform is laid out at her home in Jaipur. Devi admits that it took her a while to grasp the realities of her job initially and the challenges included designing her own uniform. (Arun Sharma / PTI)
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Manju Devi places her license plate to her forehead in an apparent gesture of gratitude for enabling her financial independence. Now, clad in a red kurta and black salwar, she sets out every day, working in multiple shifts. (Arun Sharma / PTI)
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A detail view of Manju Devi’s porter licence badge no. 15 as she waits for passengers on a platform at the railway station, in Jaipur. Devi was among 112 women who were felicitated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development as ‘First Ladies’, celebrating women who have breached barriers and registered a first in their areas of engagement. (Arun Sharma / PTI)
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Devi waits for passengers as a train arrives on a platform. She reminiscences how being illiterate and unaware of how the platforms are numbered, she had to depend on passengers and fellow porters to locate coaches and seats until the authorities learnt of this and trained her over a period of six months. (Arun Sharma / PTI)
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Manju Devi hauls a passenger’s luggage inside a train compartment. “I weighed 30 kgs and the passengers’ luggage was also 30 kgs but it was nowhere to the burden of feeding three children,” Devi narrated earlier this year at the felicitation ceremony, with President Ram Nath Kovind in attendance. (Arun Sharma / PTI)
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Updated on May 28, 2018 10:14 AM IST