<p>A little over 6 per cent women work with the Indian Railways, while their representation in certain category of jobs has declined drastically, a study report on the Railways’ performance has revealed. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The study, published in the ministry’s monthly journal, has said that it should increase women employees by 27 per cent. <br /><br />The yawning gender gap in railway’s workforce has been the subject of discussion in many forums, including the Parliamentary panel, but bridging that gap has proved to be a tough challenge. <br /><br />Railway officials say that the hopeless numbers can be explained by the nature of the work which is not conducive for women. <br /><br />“Most of the jobs in railways are field-jobs that do not suit women. There is no discrimination in recruitment; fact is that these jobs do not attract them”, said an official.<br /><br />The study revealed the number of women employees in the railway actually increased from 79,000 in 2006-7 to 85,000 in 2010-11. However, there has been a significant decline in their numbers in Group D category in the same period, reducing from 36,000 in 2006-7 to 25,000 in 2010-11. <br /><br />The number of women in the officer’s category remained by and large the same with a Nominal increase from 1,228 in 2006-7 to 1,269 in 2010-11. <br /><br />However, number of women employees increased considerably in the C category involving office works from 42000 in 2006-7 to 59, 000 in 2010-11.<br /><br />The overall strength of Railways has also declined from 1990-91 when it had 16.91 lakh employees to 13.28 lakh in 2010-11, a reduction of 20 per cent.</p>
<p>A little over 6 per cent women work with the Indian Railways, while their representation in certain category of jobs has declined drastically, a study report on the Railways’ performance has revealed. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The study, published in the ministry’s monthly journal, has said that it should increase women employees by 27 per cent. <br /><br />The yawning gender gap in railway’s workforce has been the subject of discussion in many forums, including the Parliamentary panel, but bridging that gap has proved to be a tough challenge. <br /><br />Railway officials say that the hopeless numbers can be explained by the nature of the work which is not conducive for women. <br /><br />“Most of the jobs in railways are field-jobs that do not suit women. There is no discrimination in recruitment; fact is that these jobs do not attract them”, said an official.<br /><br />The study revealed the number of women employees in the railway actually increased from 79,000 in 2006-7 to 85,000 in 2010-11. However, there has been a significant decline in their numbers in Group D category in the same period, reducing from 36,000 in 2006-7 to 25,000 in 2010-11. <br /><br />The number of women in the officer’s category remained by and large the same with a Nominal increase from 1,228 in 2006-7 to 1,269 in 2010-11. <br /><br />However, number of women employees increased considerably in the C category involving office works from 42000 in 2006-7 to 59, 000 in 2010-11.<br /><br />The overall strength of Railways has also declined from 1990-91 when it had 16.91 lakh employees to 13.28 lakh in 2010-11, a reduction of 20 per cent.</p>