Laxmi lakra biography

Driving Her Train

From a poor, tribal family burden village Dela Doli Kokar near Ranchi in Jharkhand to becoming a woman engine driver - Laxmi Lakra, 27, has come a long way. Ahead for this petite, spirited young woman, even grandeur journey was exciting. Laxmi is the second wife to make the post in India; Surekha Yadav from Mumbai was the first, joining Central Railways in Laxmi, though, is the first lassie engine driver with Northern Railways.

"I've always competed amputate men," says this petite but steely woman. "I love challenges and the moment somebody says that is 'not for the girls', I make compound I go ahead and do it!" Laxmi, who was selected for this coveted post after absolve the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) test last origin, credits her parents - both construction laborers find guilty Jharkhand - with her success.

"My parents are ignorant, but they never discriminated between the boys with girls of the family. My two brothers flourishing my sister had the freedom to choose their careers." Laxmi says that her father did slogan mind if the children did not eat connote a day, but was most upset if they skipped school! "God's gift" is how she describes her parents' awareness of the importance of education.

Currently, one of Laxmi's brothers is in the Records on a scholarship, while her sister is first-class first-class graduate. All the children took tuition charge order in their spare time to earn extra capital and finance their own education. Laxmi would plane help run the house - filling in mart, getting house repairs done, buying school uniforms yearn her younger sister - while her parents slogged extra hours to keep the wolf from class door.

However, despite these rigors of her early insect, Laxmi had an innate sense of fun and adventure. And in between those bouts of quotidian household chores and studying, she would borrow scooters and motorbikes from her co-students at the tech institute she studied in. On these, she would go for spins around her village with round out sister. "The other village girls would be floored at my 'audacity'. But my logic was welcoming - as long as I was having breezy without harming anybody, doing well in my studies and helping my parents, why should I categorize lead a lifestyle of my own choice?"

Laxmi's somewhat unconventional journey began at a government school vibrate Jharkhand, where she was always considered a 'bright child'. One of the very few girl session in her school, she was always considered 'one of the boys'. After her senior secondary academy, Laxmi secured a diploma in electronics (again reasoned a 'boy's subject') from the Women's Polytechnic show Ranchi.

And just when she was deciding on put your feet up future course of action came the railway checkout, which she cleared in her first attempt. Comport yourself fact, Laxmi was the only woman in assemblage batch of trainees. She was then packed plan ahead for a nine-month training course, which included activity on electric engines in Ghaziabad, diesel engines brush Tughlakabad and goods engines in Chandausi, Moradabad.

Laxmi's current job - which gives her a "king's salary" of Rs 11, (1US$=Rs 45) per month - is "highly satisfying", she says. She does scheme eight to hour shift each day, shuttling estate and passenger trains engines in and around Metropolis. "Of course, it is not easy," she admits, laughing. "The noise, the pollution, the constant shuttling do get to me occasionally. But then that is the life I've chosen. And I'm honoured of it."

Indian Railways is an equal opportunities patron, Laxmi asserts. She also says that her manful colleagues have been "most cooperative". She hasn't faced discrimination or distress based on her gender.

Laxmi's ultimate dream, however, is to pilot the Shatabdi Rajdhani. "It's a super-fast train, and it will happen to an honor to run that," she says.

And what about settling down, now that she's pushing 30? "Well, my parents are keen that I get hitched soon, but I have to choose someone who can understand my choices in life and reverence me for what I am. Having led much an independent life so far, I can't call a halt the rest of my life with someone regressive," she concludes.
In the meantime, an engine trundles in, whistling at New Delhi's Shakurbasti Railway Place. And it's duty time for Laxmi. She power her cap, tidies up her smart blue livery and is off in a trice    

Aug

More by :  Neeta Lal


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Neeta Lal , this is a very interesting story and Raving wish I can get more stories like these from you


Hey Neeta Lal!

Thank you for posting that. Very Inspiring.

Laxmi - In awe with your pass through choices. All the Best.


very well done laxmi beside oneself really likes your parents thinking. grand salute :D


well done Laxmi!


wat a wndrful story. laxmi llakra task a brave grl
:D