They are a study in contrasts. The effusive Asha Hansda, the demure Domini and the quiet yet confident Jaswant. What binds the three together as one unit, is the transformation they have effected in their lives through Tejaswini programme and now The Prime Minister’s Shram Award.

They, and several others, were “rejas” - tea ladies, cleaning women and those employed for odd jobs across the Steel Works - till Tata Steel decide to reskill and relocate them rather than lay them off. It ran an aptitude test and found a group of 16 suitable for a role change. Today, all these “Tejaswinis” are light to heavy motor vehicle drivers, and in the case of Jaswant, one among two women Loco drivers in the Company. Recently, all three were awarded the Prime Minister’s Shram Award. Tisco News spoke to them on how this shift in paradigm has impacted their lives.

Enthusiastic to share her story Asha when asked, bubbles over, “earlier I would do small jobs including sweeping within the Works. When the opportunity came up, I was hesitant but decided to go ahead and take the aptitude test. When we were first told that we were to be trained to be heavy vehicle drivers, I almost gave up. Madam - Mrs Urmila Ekka - would keep encouraging us to try. Even Bachendri Pal was called in to motivate us. That made a huge difference to our determination to succeed and to our morale.”

Employed in lieu of her mother when she retired, Asha had yet to tell her mother about the award because she has a big surprise planned. As she peddles to work every day, she spends that one hour required to get to work from her village dreaming of her big day.

The prize money that Domini Murmu has won will be put away for the education of her only child, her son. Like Asha, she too is the sole breadwinner of the family and, therefore, her Safety was a matter of great concern when she decided to become a Tejaswini. “My husband has been my greatest strength in the effort to change our lives. I could not complete my education, so he agreed with me when I proposed that the money be used to ensure that our son gets to study and achieve a high level of success. If I could get so far with practically no education, my son must go further,” asserts this determined lady. She has tread where few women would dare to go. Domini is comfortable driving the Mahindra jeeps for the Company’s Security men, taking them to their posts for duty and patrolling within the premises of the Company. The astonished looks of those who see her at the wheel of a vehicle packed with fierce looking men and gun totting guards does not bother her anymore. It is her husband’s assurance that she has the freedom to work alongside all of them that is the greatest source of assurance.

A small group of these Tejaswinis was on a trip to Tata companies in Mumbai and Pune, when Jaswant received the news that she has been awarded the Prime Minister’s Shram Award. All of the six who had been nominated for it, including these three, had virtually given up hope as it was more than a year since the nominations had been filled up. The mother of two young daughters, Jaswant has not made up her mind on what she would like to say to the Prime Minister. “I still have time to think. My daughters want to go with me. But I keep telling them they have school. So, now they are trying to reconcile themselves to watching the function on TV.” Her initial hesitation at storming a male bastion was blown away by the positive attitude and encouragement of her husband. She then decided to try and do whatever was possible to succeed. Her struggle and triumph over payloaders, dumpers and dozers motivated her to focus on the locomotive, the principle vehicle for movement of material within her department Raw Materials Handling.

“Whenever I faced any difficult, I would go to my bosses Mr M M Kumar and Mr A N Thakur, both of who were very encouraging. Then I requested them to let me try the locomotive. I was given the freedom to drive within the department, but after a while I realised I had to venture out and again requested them to let me try. Since then there has been no looking back.” Extremely conscious of Safety, Jaswant says that she will try very hard to make sure that the zero derailment and zero accident effort is always maintained.

What makes them the proudest is the appreciation they now receive from across the Company. In Mumbai, they had the opportunity to meet Mr Koushik Chatterjee, Vice President, Finance who told them that during his trips to Singapore the Managing Director, Mr Muthuraman told the new members of the Tata Steel fold about Tejaswini, making each of the ladies swell with pride. Post August, there will be more for all of us to be proud of.

People of extraordinary mettle The winners with Mr Niroop Mahanty (left) In the very first year that the Prime Minister’s “Shram Award -2004” was extended to include private sector companies, four of Tata Steel employees captured these honours, a magnificent beginning for the Company. While no nominee was found suitable for the highest honour the “Shram Ratna”, two of Tata Steel employees, Mr Kartik Kumar Mandal and Mrs Jaswant Kaur were conferred with the “Shram Vir/Virangana Award” the second highest honour. They were recognised for their continuous record of dedicated service and high level of productivity. Each of them were rewarded with a cash award of Rs 60,000/- and a “sanad”. Mrs Domini Murmu and Mrs Asha Hansda were recognised with the “Shram Devi” award, which included a cash prize of Rs 40,000 and a “sanad”. The ladies were nominated for showing extraordinary zeal and enthusiasm towards their work and for making a remarkable contribution to productivity. The women from Tata Steel comprised half of those from the fairer sex who were honoured. All three are “Tejaswinis” -women employee reskilled by the Company to undertake tasks in areas historically regarded as male bastions.