Varanasi :

The city before getting its woman mayor after the results of civic polls on Friday got the first . With her ‘Billa’ (badge) no-243′ Kamlawati, the mother of four, is mentally prepared to carry the luggage loads of passengers. Kamlawati, widow of a coolie Pramod Kumar Gaud, received her badge on Wednesday.

“As per policy guidelines of the Railway Board, the badge may be transferred to the family member, irrespective of the gender,” the chief area manager Ravi Prakash Chaturvedi told TOI.

“I am happy that the badge of my late husband was transferred to me. It will help me in rearing my children,” said Kamlawati (35), whose husband died in December 2016 owing to some ailment. She is ready to carry the loads of others to look after her three daughters and a son. Her eldest daughter Saloni (14) studies in class 8th, while Soumya (11) in 7th and Shrishti (10) in 5th class. The three-year-old Shresyansh is yet to begin his schooling. “I know the job of coolie needs physical strength as it is a difficult task for a woman like me, but I will do it for the sake of my children,” she said adding that she will join her duty when asked by the authorities.

Hailing from Deoria district Kamlawati lives with the family of her brother-in-law Sikandar Gaud, who is a constable in GRP, in a railway quarter of New Railway Colony near Cantonment station.

The coolie fraternity at the Cantt station is also haapy and ready to extend all support to her while on duty. “We tried to get the badge transferred to her so that she can earn living for her small kids. All of us will happily provide all support to her,” said the president of Varanasi unit of All India Coolie Union Kedar Yadav adding that she will be the first woman coolie in Northern Railway. According to him, a total of 194 coolies are there at Cantt railway station.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Varanasi News / by Binay Singh / TNN / November 30th, 2017