From managing reservation counters to nabbing ticket-less passengers, women employees of Dhanbad railway division did it all on Sunday.

On International Women's Day, the coal town station became a pretty fair place with the railway authorities deputing 40 of its women employees on every job. "The objective was to pay due respect to our women colleagues," said a railway employee.

Apart from manning station premises, assistant sub-inspector Sinti Kumari was entrusted with the task of managing the Railway Protection Force (RPF) thana too.

Travelling ticket examiners (TTE) Sujata Pradhan, Nutan Mala Kujur and Sadhana Kumari, who were on vigil at gate Nos. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, rounded up some three dozen ticket-less passengers during the first shift from 6am to 2pm.

Speaking to The Telegraph, chief travelling ticket inspector Asif Wali, who supervised the work at the station, said the performance of the women TTEs was commendable. "In fact, they outdid their male counterparts in the allotted time," he added.

Dhanbad railway division has 857 women employees, including six assistant loco pilots, five station masters and 18 travelling ticket examiners (TTE) across its 112 stations.

"We deputed around 20 women employees during the first shift. For the second half of the day, another set of 20 manned the station," Wali told The Telegraph.

"Being a TTE, my duty is usually on board a train. But, today I enjoyed my administrative job. I hope more and more women come to the forefront of every organisation," said Nilima Kispotta who played deputy station superintendent on Sunday.

TTE Sujata too enjoyed her stint. "The increase in the number of fair employees in different departments speaks volumes for women empowerment. I hope the situation improves further when there will be no discrimination against women at all," she added.

Senior divisional commercial manager of Dhanbad Dayanand, who had instructed to make all these arrangements, said: "We have been following this system for the past two years. And, every time, women have proved to be more efficient than men."

Sima Kujur, who was deputed at the enquiry counter, left a point to ponder. "The idea to post women in top jobs for a day is commendable. But, I feel that women should acquire these leading positions on their own one day so that there is no need to give them charge on any special occasion."

How did you mark women's day in your city or town? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com