Ranchi, March 8: Women in the capital have touched a new high in the past few years. They are now working efficiently in fields, which were once regarded as male zones only.
They have not only made their mark in education and medical sciences but also made their presence felt in various trades. Their area of work now include manning petrol pumps, selling products as market representatives, working as life insurance agents, and even selling golgappas.
Few would have imagined that women would work at petrol pumps where customers are varied and sometimes a little dicey too.
However Khukhari petrol pump today is a sign of the changing times. The pump is being run by women for the last six months. They have proved that they can do rough it out as well as men.
“Initially we were not trained properly and faced a lot of problems in work. But, now we are satisfied and can say that we are as efficient as men. In fact, we thoroughly enjoy working here,” said Annu Gurung, a delivery girl-cum-cashier.
Even a few years ago the insurance sector in Ranchi was an all-man area. But things have changed now and several women are now working as agents.
“We took up the business as a challenge two years ago. I worked hard to establish myself in the field and now I am confident about my abilities. I have been so successful in the field that neither my husband nor my in-laws have had a chance to complain,” said Urmila Gupta, an LIC agent.
Rinku is another successful entrepreneur. She has made a career of a trait traditionally associated with women — cooking. This Ranchi Women’s College graduate sells golgappas on Main Road. “Those who have tasted my golgappas once keep coming back for more. I enjoy this and till now I have never faced problems while on the job,”she said.
Girls in the city have also started working as door-to-door sales executives, something unthinkable even a few years ago. “Initially I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of knocking on the doors of complete strangers. But now I’ve got accustomed to it. Every day I visit almost 50 houses to sell pickles and biscuits. I earn Rs 3,000 each month and I am happy,” said Neena Choudhary.
