Women ‘Manning’ the Counters Now and How!

The maiden journey aboard the New Delhi-Chandigarh Vande Bharat was proving to be a ride of excitement and pride, when a maiden appeared, dressed in an appropriate uniform, her hair tucked in a neat bun, covered with a cap. She was our attendant for the journey, and her warm and confident smile had already won us over. Extremely efficient and serving the appetizing morning breakfast, topped with her warmth, Vande Bharat now had added another reason to celebrate – the women in the workforce at entry level, who are touching the customers directly, making a huge impact and delivering an impeccable service.

The semi-high speed wonder, Vande Bharat is employing women in different roles from loco pilots loco pilot, assistant loco pilot, train manager, ticket examiners, and onboard catering staff. Surekha Yadav, Asia’s first woman loco pilot, created history by becoming the first female to pilot a Vande Bharat Express train from Solapur to CSMT in March 2023. Ritika Tirkey is noted as the first tribal woman assistant loco pilot for the Tatanagar-Patna Vande Bharat Express.

Last weekend, on a customary trip to the mall, the first halt was at a petrol station with the fuel refilling done by a woman attendant, effectively directing the vehicles to the required dispenser and then filling the tank, closing with a smile. Upon reaching the plush Gurgaon mall, a woman parking attendant was seen handling entries, another was giving direction for an appropriate slot – It’s a sight to see women workers deftly taking care of mammoth parking. The ‘revolution’ continues well inside the mall, entering the favorite café, women are ‘manning’ the counter, serving the guests with elan and the story continues, be it a high-end retail story or the jazzy multiplex.

From collecting toll fees at toll plazas on the expressways to serving the passengers in a high-speed train, women are now steadily holding on to jobs which were primarily held by men, few years back. It’s a silent revolution taking place with huge socio-economic impact. The national capital region (NCR) is largely witnessing this influx of women, from adjoining rural areas, into the huge service and retail landscape. Semi-educated, mostly in the age bracket of 20-35, women from semi-urban and adjacent rural areas are largely employed all around in various shifts. Dressed in crisp uniforms, you will find them extremely helpful, doing their jobs with utmost sincerity, and mostly serving with a smile. Most of these women workers are dropped and picked by their male family members (read husband or father or brother).

Blue-collar manufacturing roles

With the urban infrastructure expanding fast, families of semi-urban areas are coming in support as the women embrace the opportunities arising.  

Workers receive free accommodation, subsidised meals, and earn an average salary of around Rs 18,000 per month, among the highest for women in blue-collar manufacturing roles.

Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn has hired nearly 30,000 workers at its new iPhone assembly unit near Bengaluru in just 8-9 months. The Devanahalli facility, which is primarily run by women and employs mostly first-time workers aged 19–24, with the workers receiving free accommodation, subsidized meals, and earn an average salary of around Rs 18,000 per month, among the highest for women in blue-collar manufacturing roles.

Safe working environments, fixed wages with other benefits are driving the women to take up the blue- collar jobs where they are even imparted trainings to upskill and upscale. 

Glass ceilings Still Remain Unattainable

Clearly and evidently, while the number of women in workforce are rising, an important question arises. Is the Glass Ceiling still remain intact? First coined by The Marilyn Loden at New York in 1978 in an era  when women were struggling for their growth and trying to create a space in male-dominated corporations. The “glass ceiling” emphasized on the vertical discrimination that hinders women’s job advancement in the higher management positions.

According to Mckinsey’s 2025 Women in the Workplace study, only half of companies are prioritizing women’s career advancement, part of a several-year trend in declining commitment to gender diversity. And for the first time, there is a notable ambition gap: Women are less interested in being promoted than men.

While the scenario on top may not be that promising, the bottom of the pyramid right now is flourishing with women taking the jobs to a great extent. What needs to be seen is