Question : Employment of Women in Railways

(a) the number of women candidates who have been given employment in the Indian Railways especially in technical category in the last three years;

(b) whether the number of women applying for jobs in technical category is very less compared to men and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government is giving any preference to the women candidates who are applying for Railways in technical category and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has taken any steps to improve the odd working condition prevalent in Railways in view of more and more women joining Railways in technical category;

(e) if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the other steps being taken to increase the employment of women in the Railways?

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 662 BY DR. HEENA GAVIT, SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE, SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE, DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE AND DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 26.06.2019 REGARDING EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN IN RAILWAYS.

(a): Around 3,650 women candidates have been given employment in the Indian Railways in technical categories in the last three years.

(b): In the past few years, against notifications issued for various technical posts, a total of 2,79,60,224 applications were received and out of these, 46,76,928 (16.73%) were from women. Wide publicity is given to Railway recruitment notifications and every candidate, irrespective of gender, etc. fulfilling eligibility criteria is free to apply.

(c): Yes, Sir. Application fee collected from women candidates are refunded to those who appear in the examination. Also, upper age limit in case of widows, divorced women and women judicially separated from their husbands, who are not remarried, is relaxed up to the age of 35 years. In addition, for Level-1 categories, relaxed qualifying standards for the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) for women candidates are applied.

(d)&(e): Yes, Sir. Provisions of separate rest rooms, cloak rooms, changing rooms and crèches have been made to ensure safe working conditions for women employees.

(f): Wide publicity is given to Railway recruitment notifications to encourage women candidates to apply for Railway jobs. Facility of online application form ensures that women are able to apply even from their home for Railway recruitment notifications.

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