Summary
Surekha Yadav, India's first female train driver, retired after 36 years with Indian Railways. She began her career in 1989 as the only woman in a male-dominated field and has inspired over 2,000 women to follow in her footsteps.
Key Facts
- Surekha Yadav became India's first female train driver in 1989.
- She worked for Indian Railways for 36 years before retiring.
- Yadav grew up in Maharashtra, India, and studied electrical engineering.
- She chose the train driver job after seeing an advertisement, not knowing it was male-dominated.
- Her career began on a goods train and later advanced to locomotive pilot in 1996.
- There are now more than 2,000 female train drivers in India.
- Train drivers in India face unpredictable work hours and challenging conditions.
- India's train network is a vital and affordable transportation option for millions.
