Haflong, March 11: Hers is a story of a woman daring to take the overseas "track", and what's more, step into a male bastion.

Not many know her though, but 32-year-old Pinky Rai, a resident of Bagater, a village, near here in Dima Hasao district, has become the first Indian lady tram operator in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

The tram service under Dubai Transport Authority started operating from November 11. Pinky, who is currently at her Bagater home, was accorded a grand welcome yesterday on her arrival from Dubai, which was her first homecoming after the feat.

"Parents should treat their daughters and sons with equal respect and give them a fair chance in education and life," she said as neighbours and well-wishers took turns to meet her.

Born in a middle-class family, Pinky, the daughter of J.K. Rai, a former member of NC Hills autonomous council, had done her schooling from St Agnes Convent, Haflong, and completed her post-graduation in history from Haflong Government College.

"I believe nothing is impossible for a woman. That is how I motivated myself when I opted to go outside the region back in 2006. The only thing we need is a little support from our family members and we can achieve everything. My request to all the parents is that they should support their daughters and see what they can do," Pinky said.

After completing her post-graduation, she left Haflong in 2006.

"I worked at a call centre in Mumbai in 2006. Three years later, I left for the UAE after making the cut in Dubai Metro where I had been working as a station staff till I applied for the post of a Dubai tram driver (operator) in February last year. As luck would have it, I was selected and after five months of training, started to operate a tram on my own from November 11," a proud Pinky narrated her success story.

And what are the challenges faced in her short stint so far?

"Well, I am the only Indian lady tram operator in Dubai while there are a few other women from other countries. So, I had to muster courage and self-belief as it was about catering to passengers and of course, maintaining time and operating the tram smoothly," she said.

Lauding her feat, vice-president of the Dima Hasao Mahila Congress, Himadrika Bathari, said: "We feel proud that a woman from our district has shown so much courage and chosen a profession that very few women would choose. I salute her."