TRANSCENDING BORDERS

Women who build roads and more... The women working with the Border Road Organisation are truly inspirational, finds Shraddha Kamdar

- Shraddha Kamdar

Whether you are in the remote and far-flung areas of Ladakh or the reaches of Uttarakhand or the upper North East, apart from the natural beauty and the challenging terrain, one common factor you will find is a strong presence of the BRO, or Border Roads Organisation. You will be familiar with their smart signboards warning citizens about bends in the winding roads and asking them to be cautious for their own safety. One of the slogans on their many catty and funny hoardings reads, “BRO can construct roads anywhere, (the) sky is the limit.” And that is truly the case. The organisation is at the forefront of infrastructure development, constructing roads, bridges, tunnels and airfields in the remote border areas of the country.

While the BRO leads the way, literally, when it comes to motorable roads in the country, there is another aspect in which it has taken a significant step forward. Gender equality is an aspect that is being carefully considered, with women being progressively inducted into the workforce over the years. The number of women now working with the BRO is over 400, and, interestingly, over 200 of them work out in the field, in the remotest parts of the country, proving their worth. Women officers, both from the Indian Army and the General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF), are now being positioned in command assignments. These women officers, subordinate staff and casual paid labourers (CPLs) – work shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts, proving, once again, that gender is not a hindrance if one has the will and passion. Exclusively women-led and women-composed teams have also been created within the organisation, not only leading to a sense of cohesiveness but also lending a sense of identity to these team members.