Why women driving trains in India want other jobs

In May 2021, Meena, an assistant loco pilot in Madhya Pradesh began feeling sharp pain in her abdomen and developed a fever. When she went to the nearest railway hospital, she was given painkillers and asked to get a sonography done. “At first, I thought it was gas or another urinary tract infection, since I had it two-three times before,” she told Scroll over the phone.

But this time, the shooting pain turned out to be a kidney abscess – that is, a pocket of pus had developed in Meena’s kidney tissue. If left untreated, the abscess could have damaged her internal organs and posed a threat to her life. Meena immediately saw a doctor and began treatment for the abscess. “I luckily received a diagnosis on time and went on sick leave for a month,” she said. The abscess, her doctor explained to her had developed from a urinary tract infection.

As a goods train loco pilot, Meera was used to long shifts. “Our shifts last for 12 hours minimum,” she said. “And we cannot use the washroom during this time. I drink less water and hold my pee in for hours, so such things are bound to happen.” (Meera and other loco pilots...

Read more