Banajyostna

One is demure and quietly focussed on the responsibilities she handles. The other is vivacious but determined to make her ability ensure that she is counted as a first among equals. Banajyostna, a JET of the 2001 batch and Shalini Sulakshana, a graduate trainee of the 2000 batch, are as different as chalk and cheese

The one thing they do share in common is their passion for Tata Steel and their love for their job. They say if there is one thing they would like to change about the company, then it is the organisation's strict adherence to the rule that lady employees must stop work at 6 P.M. Needless to say, they regularly ask permission to stay on for a couple of hours extra.

Shalini, the eldest among her siblings, is an alumnus of BIT, Mesra where she did her Electronics and Communications. Her academic background and a visit to the company's steelmaking section, LD#2 during her GT days, made her realise that she would be comfortable on the shopfloor and handle Level 2 Automation there. "LD#2 also gave me better opportunities to stand out. I felt that my mentoring there would also be better," she affirms. When asked about handling the heavy equipment there, Shalini explains, a trifle nonchalant, "most of the work is actually done in the mind."

All the cranes and torpedo handled by her as Integrated Electrical Maintenance Manager at the Desulphurising Unit requires more mental agility than physical stamina. Though it is easy to mistake Shalini for a schoolgirl, as many on the TBEM assessment team did, the level of trust her department has in her is reflected in the range of responsibilities she handles. Apart from her job, Shalini, also shoulders the responsibility of Quality Convener, ISO Auditor and Document Controller. Needless to say, her Chief is happy to have this Tiswoman on board his team.

Shalini Sulakshana

Another Chief who is equally happy with the Tiswoman on his team is Mr Nandji Pandey, Chief, Merchant Mill and the person who Banajyostna holds responsible for her own success there. "He always encouraged me and told me not to worry about being accepted but to work hard and prove my worth. He would say "I am with you" to me and that made a lot of difference especially because the Merchant Mill is the company's oldest department and does have an older group of workers."

Despite the initial disadvantage of being like a granddaughter to them, Banajyostna quickly earned their respect with her ability and demeanour so much so that they have faith in her leadership now. As a metallurgist from OSME, Keonjhar, Orissa she always wanted to work on the shopfloor, and enjoys being incharge of the Finishing and Shipping Area at the Merchant Mill. She, however, continues to work hard, with the encouragement of her colleagues to get her AIMAM so that she can pursue a MTech at NIT. An accomplished Odissl dancer, practice and recital have to wait while Banajyostna places her career centrestage.

Though they are "women of steel" both Shalini and Banajyostna agree that it is the support of their respective families and easy acceptance of their career choice which has ensured that they have become independent and determined individuals.