- 29 minutes ago
At the India Today Conclave South, Commander Prasanna Edayilliam (retd), former Indian Navy Air Traffic Control officer and Vizhinjam International Seaport crane operators Nathana Mary JD and Shiji U spoke about breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated professions. They shared how resistance, limited opportunities and workplace expectations often made their journeys challenging, but training, institutional support and persistence helped them succeed. Prasanna recalled fighting for greater career rights for women officers and the difficulties she faced in a workplace largely designed for men. Nathana said training and support from managers helped her gain confidence as a crane operator, while Shiji, the sole earning member of her family, said she persisted despite initially finding the job difficult. "Women can enter into any field. With opportunity and proper training, it will give [them] a level playing field," Nathana said. The three women stressed the importance of giving women opportunities, training and support to enter unconventional careers. Prasanna also noted that access to information has expanded the choices available to young women. "Those days there was no Google to help. There was no information source. Now everything is available," she said. "You should have the passion. You will achieve it."
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NewsTranscript
00:00So we've got ladies and gentlemen with us, three women with three extremely fascinating stories.
00:07And so, you know, I could go on and on about what each of them have accomplished, but I think
00:11it's best you hear from them.
00:13So Commander, can I begin with you on your story, your journey?
00:18And please, don't hold back, don't be modest.
00:21I'd love to hear about your achievements because, you know, this is about celebrating all of you.
00:25Thank you. Good afternoon to one and all present here, and thanks for giving me an opportunity to share my
00:33experience.
00:34I come from a small village in Kasirgur district called Uduma, and I grew up in Cochin.
00:41My father was working in a fertilizer factory, which is known as FECD.
00:46And I was fortunate enough to grow up in a township where we had all modern facilities during those times.
00:53And later, I moved to St. Teresa's College, Maharajah's, and St. Paul's College for my higher education.
01:01I was an NCC cadet wearing that white uniform, attending the parades.
01:07And I got fascinated seeing the naval officers proceeding to naval base for their work.
01:14The golden stripes that was there in my mind, and I worked towards it, cleared SSB, and joined Indian Navy
01:23in the third batch as an air traffic controller.
01:26I did my parasailing during my NCC days, went to INS Garuda to get the runway clearance, climbed up to
01:34the ATC tower, and got to know what does a controller do.
01:38A modified traffic police who controls the aircraft.
01:42That is what the explanation given to me about the work of an air traffic controller.
01:47Later, I realized that it is one of the toughest jobs in the world, which requires a lot of concentration
01:54and mental calculation.
01:57Later, we completed 14 years, and we were not given further service, no pension, no medical benefits.
02:05Few of us joined through Facebook in those days, formed a group, filed a petition in Delhi High Court, fought
02:15a case for the injustice which was done to us.
02:19Like, being a lady, I am not permitted to continue beyond 14 years.
02:25And then we had no benefits.
02:28Then we realized that none of the ladies, especially young girls, would like to join armed forces and take it
02:35up as a carrier.
02:37There should be some policy in place, or some amendment should happen from Union of India.
02:43We filed a case.
02:45We won the case in Delhi High Court.
02:47We were to get reinstated.
02:49Navy went for an appeal.
02:51Our fight continued for another five more years, and which got culminated in the year 2020, March 17th.
02:59And we are thankful to the judiciary for understanding our problem.
03:03Now, young women of our country can take up armed forces as a carrier.
03:10They are permitted to join through Sionic School, National Defense Academy, and RIMC.
03:16And they can compete with the male counterpart.
03:19And if they are eligible, if they come in the merit, they clear the medical test, they can go up
03:26to the rank.
03:28And maybe 40 years from now, we can see a women chief in our country.
03:34Wow.
03:34So in the year 2000, I was asked to go for a sailing onward a Singapore ship.
03:41A small country, in that particular year, the ship was commanded by a lady, and the operation officer was also
03:49a lady.
03:49What are we talking about?
03:51We talk about our expansion in all fields.
03:55Why are we not empowering women?
03:56So you felt that and decided that you wanted to be the change.
04:00Yes.
04:00And along with me, there were former officers.
04:04We all, we have put in a lot of effort.
04:08And with the blessings of everyone, like parents, teachers, well-wishers, a lot of support from the media.
04:16And it all helped us in one way or other to bring that matter.
04:20Like people were not aware that we were not given service beyond 14 years and left after 14 years without
04:28any pension or medical benefits.
04:30And our experience in the civil world was not, like they would never considered it.
04:35And my name is Presanna and in South India, it is a unisex name.
04:39I applied for a job and they say that we were expecting a male officer.
04:45Even during my naval career, I was sent to Ramna the Puram, which is considered for a special mission.
04:53So I reached the place and the commanding officer said I was expecting a male officer.
04:57I said, sir, I have cleared the same interview, same training.
05:01I would like to serve here and complete my duration of my official duty and I would like to go
05:06back.
05:07We don't want to get treated as lady officer.
05:09We wanted to get known as officer only because we have cleared the same interview, same process and working at
05:17par with the male officers.
05:18So that's what you fought for, for equality, for parity.
05:21Yes.
05:22And courtesy what Commander Prasanna has done, legally fighting it, what she spoke of about perhaps seeing sometime a woman
05:31chief of the armed forces, that's actually a possibility.
05:35That's a possibility, courtesy the legal fight that she put up and said enough is enough.
05:39Why should women officers be treated any differently than their male counterparts, which is amazing to see because, you know,
05:44very often we speak of breaking the glass ceiling.
05:48We speak of, okay, you know, this person has accomplished so much.
05:51They don't think about what about the next generation, about, you know, what is it going to be like for
05:57more women who are going to enter this field.
05:58So hats off to you for doing that, for thinking about what needs to be done next as well.
06:03Let me also bring in, Nathana, on this conversation.
06:08You're a crane operator at the Virinium port.
06:11How did that happen?
06:12Because you don't hear very often of, you know, women crane operators.
06:17The unfortunate reality is that in our society there are some jobs, some professions that are considered to be only
06:23for men.
06:24This is one of those.
06:26Tell me about your journey.
06:27Hi, everyone.
06:29Good afternoon.
06:30My name is Nadana Mary Jedi.
06:32I am working as CRMG crane operator at Adani Virinium International seaport.
06:39So as you asked, I am a physics graduate.
06:42My academic background is very different.
06:44And when I, when this job came to me, it was very like, um, as, as you all know, it's,
06:53um, port is something we all traditionally believe in as a male dominated field, right?
06:59So when this job came to me and I was curious at the same time, I was, I want to
07:06know what's happening there, uh, like, uh, how it's work and all that.
07:11And eventually through training and all the, all the support from our managers and all that, I gradually like become
07:21more confident in what I'm doing.
07:24And yeah, that's how I ended up here.
07:28And I'm very happy to be a part of Adani Virinium International seaport and representing, uh, uh, like where I
07:37am working.
07:38I'm so happy about that too.
07:40How many, how many women are there doing this?
07:41Actually, there are nine women who are operating cranes and on among us is like operating the SDS cranes, which
07:49is the like ship to shore crane, uh, which means like it's a very big crane, which is like handling,
07:55uh, uh, containers from vessel to the shore.
07:59Amazing.
08:00Amazing that, you know, so many of you have accomplished this.
08:02And I think the fact that so many women got this opportunity itself is a big deal.
08:07Shiji is also with us.
08:08She too is a crane operator at the Virinium seaport.
08:11Uh, Shiji, there's a certain mindset in the society about this, uh, as progressive a state as Kerala is, there's
08:20still going to be that question.
08:21Male, this is a male occupation, male profession.
08:25So, you know, you're convinced, you know, you're a family, society.
08:33I have a lot of people, you know, and I'm like, hey, you know, I'm a guy.
08:37I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a woman, I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man.
08:44I'm a man.
08:46When I came to my CRMG operator, I had a difficult time to do this.
08:57I couldn't do this.
08:59I couldn't do this.
08:59I couldn't do this.
09:00I couldn't do this.
09:01I couldn't do this.
09:03I couldn't do this.
09:05I couldn't do this.
09:07I couldn't do this.
09:12I couldn't do this.
09:13I couldn't do this.
09:14I couldn't do this.
09:17Where did I come to this job offer first?
09:21CVH.
09:23You put the initiative.
09:26Yeah, CVH.
09:27So you have a thought in your mind.
09:30What will be society?
09:31What will be society is thinking?
09:32There's a lot of hesitation.
09:34I don't want to say anything.
09:39I did interview with CVH.
09:43I couldn't do this.
09:45I couldn't feel it.
09:47I couldn't do this.
09:49I couldn't do this.
09:50I couldn't do this.
09:50I couldn't do this.
09:52I couldn't do this.
09:53I couldn't do this.
10:03So I'll tell you.
10:05Shiji is someone who's also the sole breadwinner of her family.
10:09So for her to have kind of, you know, dismissed what everyone has to say to go out there, live
10:15her dreams to go out there and make a living for her family.
10:18That's what was the number one priority, which was amazing to see that she was saying that, look, people may
10:23think a certain way.
10:24I don't care.
10:25I'm going to go out and do what I have to.
10:27Netana to you again on really the thinking of being a crane operator.
10:34Do you see that a lot in India now that more women are stepping up doing jobs that are not
10:39the usual of what's considered of what a woman should do versus what she shouldn't do?
10:44Do you see that changing now?
10:46Yes.
10:46Did you consciously do it yourself?
10:48Yes, of course, like it was very interesting, actually, because as you all know, like as I said already, like
10:54it's male dominated field and everyone I am coming from like there is like I am coming from.
11:03Trivandrum itself.
11:04Trivandrum itself.
11:04Like where we all like thing.
11:07Okay, it will be some kind of difficulty to women to enter into some certain fields actually.
11:16And it has changing like more than the back years.
11:20Right.
11:20So it is gradually changing and very proud to be representing in a way that like the women are entering
11:28into every fields and I believe that women can enter into every field actually.
11:33There is like I think the empowerment means giving the woman that opportunity and by with the proper training and
11:43with the guidance also.
11:46If if we give a space for her to work it that that work will show how women will work
11:53and how women will do that a level playing field.
11:57Yeah, essentially.
11:58And so there a woman will thrive, which is what you also mentioned, Commander Prasanna, that, you know, what we're
12:03seeking is not some perk.
12:06We're not saying put us on a pedestal or any of that equality and then we'll ensure that we perform.
12:11We deliver each of the journeys you've heard from both Shiji as well as Rathana.
12:17What's interesting is how you've kind of decided that where you come from is not going to define who you
12:22are.
12:23Take me through that for you.
12:24Of course, I think one big force was your family and ensuring they didn't make you feel that, you know,
12:29you're from a certain place.
12:30This is all that you can think about.
12:32Yes, actually, the very great motivation came from my father.
12:38He was studying in Calicut and he joined FACT during his college days.
12:44He was an NCC.
12:45So he advised that it's a better option for you to develop your overall personality, like participate in sports, participate
12:53in extracurricular activities.
12:55And you'll get to know, you'll meet a lot of people, you gain a lot of experience and you improve
13:00yourself, you improve your personality.
13:02And for me, I studied in a state syllabus school and competing with North Indian students in terms of SSB
13:10was a challenge.
13:11But I had to practice, I had to prepare myself and I joined Hindi Prajaar Sabha classes for improving my
13:19Hindi language.
13:21So that I after participating in NCC activities, national camps and all, I was confident that yes, I can go
13:28to the next level.
13:30So everything starts from home and your surrounding, like your academy school teachers, where you studied.
13:39So a lot of factors play plays a major role in grooming yourself at the young age and building confidence
13:46in you.
13:47And so that you can take it up to the next level in every step of the way, though, did
13:52you feel that resistance?
13:54Yes, you did.
13:55Yes, then it was a challenge at every point that you had to prove yourself very much 10 times more.
14:01Yes, very much like even growing hair was a difficult task during my training.
14:07So I took a haircut.
14:09So everyone was telling you are a lady, you should have long hair.
14:12Where is the definition?
14:13Where is it defined?
14:15You leave as per your convenience.
14:17We have only one life.
14:18We should leave it with our convenience.
14:21100%.
14:21But the society doesn't necessarily allow that, which is the challenge.
14:25You've overcome that.
14:26There are many who weren't able to, I'm sure as well.
14:29It's tough.
14:30It's not that easy because we follow certain norms in the society.
14:34If someone thinks out of box, then they'll say that, look at that person.
14:41So it is always, you have, you face a lot of challenges and you have to prove your fact, your
14:47point.
14:47So for Commander President, clearly your resolve was your strongest source.
14:52Shiji, what is your biggest strength?
14:54Is it a vital support system?
14:56Is it a personal resolve?
14:58Is it a confidence?
15:03Alienary.
15:04No.
15:06Good.
15:06This is a family background.
15:09Anybody.
15:10There is no home.
15:11So I have no idea that, there is no other way.
15:16So, if someone is a, there, you are.
15:20If someone is missing the way, I have no idea of the way, I have no idea of this.
15:26So I have no idea of it.
15:28If someone is missing here, I have no idea of this.
15:29confident self-confidence
15:31confident
15:43proud feeling
15:45but you have a vital support system
15:56which makes such a big
15:57difference I think for everyone who wants to go
15:59out and achieve their dreams
16:01Nathana do you think that's a big
16:03big factor that you need to have
16:05that support system at home and that helps
16:07women push forward
16:09sometimes like we will
16:11have a support system sometimes
16:13ourselves will be by our support system
16:15right so
16:17don't like
16:19wait for like support or something
16:21I definitely believe that
16:23yeah actually there is support system
16:25I need to mention my
16:27colleagues, my managers
16:28and who have helped me in
16:32doing all this training and
16:34become a good operator
16:37at like
16:38Adhani Viriniam International Seaport
16:41so there was support
16:42in that way but
16:45as you asked like
16:46if we need a support system
16:48particular support system to enter into a certain
16:50kind of field or something like that
16:52I would say like
16:55like before you start something
16:57there will be no confidence
16:59there will be no
17:00like support or anything
17:02will be not there
17:04gradually when you
17:06if you took that opportunity
17:08and the confidence will grow there
17:10that's what happened in my
17:12like my
17:14journey actually
17:15when I
17:16start CRMG
17:18I was very confused
17:19and I was like
17:20it was very challenging
17:22actually it's
17:23we are like operating
17:24very big cranes
17:25and we are handling
17:26these containers
17:28which is like
17:29like 41 tons
17:30or something like that
17:31yeah
17:32so
17:32it's challenging
17:34at the same time
17:35and
17:35technology has made
17:37something
17:37very
17:38good way
17:39to be in that field
17:41actually
17:41I need to
17:42technology has kind of
17:43helped you
17:44ensure that you know
17:45you can take that step forward
17:46actually everyone will
17:47when someone asks me
17:49like
17:49what you are doing
17:50and if I
17:51said something like
17:52I'm a crane operator
17:54and they will be like
17:55it's very interesting reaction
17:57when I get from them
17:58yeah
17:58is what
17:59are they shocked
18:01are they
18:02curious
18:02they will be like
18:04generally
18:06considered as the male
18:07dominated right
18:08male field
18:09and like gender
18:10some kind of gender
18:11is doing that
18:12but
18:14when I said
18:15say about this technology
18:16and
18:17it's automated crane
18:18and all that
18:19they will be
18:20that
18:21that kind of like
18:23confusion
18:24change into curiosity
18:25and they will ask
18:26how it's work
18:27how it's doing
18:27and they want to
18:29like come there
18:30and see
18:31as themselves
18:32yeah
18:33that's
18:34what happens
18:35yeah
18:35I have to ask you this
18:3610 years ago
18:37do you think it would
18:38have been possible
18:39for us to have seen
18:41women crane operators
18:42no not at all
18:43my child
18:44like
18:46my childhood
18:47will be not
18:47believe
18:48that I am a
18:49CRNG operator
18:50I am sitting here
18:50representing
18:51other and even
18:52international seaport
18:53and it's very
18:56very interesting
18:57journey for me
18:57actually
18:58and
18:58I am so proud
18:59to be here
19:00yeah
19:01I am glad
19:02you said that
19:03because you know
19:03very often
19:04women don't kind of
19:06play up what
19:06they have achieved
19:08it's an inherent
19:09trait of sorts
19:10to kind of play down
19:11everything you have
19:11achieved
19:12so I think you should
19:13put it out there
19:13and you should
19:13celebrate it more
19:15you have seen
19:16commander person
19:17now what things
19:17were like before
19:18versus now
19:19if you were to
19:20compare the two
19:21of when you started
19:22off
19:23versus how an
19:24officer today
19:25a woman officer
19:25today would be
19:27in a similar situation
19:29what do you think
19:30have things changed
19:30are they poles apart
19:32those days there was
19:34no google auntie
19:35to guide us
19:35when we travel
19:36anywhere
19:37now you have a
19:39google auntie
19:39to help you
19:40those days
19:41if I have to get
19:42some information
19:43about anything
19:45I either should
19:46depend on someone
19:47who have gone
19:48through that stage
19:49or a library
19:50who facilitate
19:52the entire information
19:53now everything
19:55is available
19:55on the fingertips
19:56and
19:57it is very easy
19:59for a person
19:59to travel
20:00from one place
20:01to another
20:01at any given
20:02time
20:03those days
20:04it used to be
20:05a nightmare
20:05like short notice
20:06travel
20:07without reservation
20:08and
20:10flights
20:10like
20:11that was not
20:12given to junior
20:13officers
20:13so we always
20:14had to depend
20:15on train journey
20:16so now
20:17the situation
20:18has changed
20:19even
20:19you know
20:20women are very
20:20often referred to
20:21as multitaskers
20:22yes
20:22so at that point
20:24multitasking
20:24would have been
20:25hundred times
20:25more difficult
20:26than today's
20:26multitasking
20:27yes
20:28so in such a
20:30scenario
20:30do you think
20:31that today
20:31the reason
20:32we're seeing
20:33that change
20:33is because
20:34so many of
20:34you are out
20:35there
20:35and
20:36are kind
20:37of taking
20:38that leap
20:38so that
20:39there are
20:39many others
20:39who can do
20:40it
20:40yes
20:41that makes
20:41the difference
20:42lot of
20:43difference
20:43so that's
20:44and now
20:45a lot of
20:45avenues are
20:46open to
20:47ladies
20:48and they
20:49have realized
20:50their potential
20:50and they are
20:51coming forward
20:52to take up
20:52the challenge
20:53and the support
20:54system is also
20:55quite good
20:56those days
20:57it was very
20:57difficult
20:58when I joined
20:59my first
20:59posting
21:00there was
21:00no restroom
21:01for a lady
21:01I was the only
21:02lady in that
21:03particular base
21:04it was very
21:05tough scenario
21:06for me
21:07how did you
21:08overcome that
21:10resolve
21:10it's that
21:11personal resolve
21:12again
21:12and also
21:13we had to
21:14wear the same
21:14uniform
21:15like white
21:16shirt
21:16and that
21:17so the kids
21:18used to call
21:18uncle
21:19jaisa auntie
21:20oh my god
21:22uncle jaisa auntie
21:24so we were
21:26like everywhere
21:27like when I
21:28joined my
21:29first posting
21:29there were only
21:30male officers
21:32and the sailors
21:33so it used to
21:35be good morning
21:35gentlemen
21:36for the briefing
21:36when I joined
21:38it became
21:38good morning
21:39lady and
21:39gentleman
21:40lady and
21:40gentleman
21:42wow
21:42it was the
21:43small things
21:44that you take
21:44for granted
21:45and you've seen
21:46that journey
21:47you've seen
21:48what it's like
21:48do you feel
21:49proud today
21:50where India
21:50is now
21:51my commanding
21:51officer told
21:52me one thing
21:53present I look
21:54at your stripes
21:55not at your face
21:56so you have to
21:57prove yourself
21:58wow
21:59you think we've
22:00reached that
22:00position now
22:01that women
22:02you know
22:03their profession
22:05and their skill
22:07is decided by
22:07their stripes
22:08not by their
22:08face as he
22:09put it
22:09you see
22:10who was
22:10heading the
22:11medical service
22:11you see
22:12who was
22:13flying the
22:13fighter planes
22:14who was
22:14commanding the
22:15ships
22:17so I'm
22:18sure in
22:18couple of
22:19years you'll
22:19find a
22:20woman chief
22:20wow
22:21I'm just
22:22waiting for
22:22that day
22:23I'm truly
22:23waiting for
22:24that day
22:24because that
22:25will be a
22:25historic moment
22:26for India
22:27Shiji
22:28you have
22:29inspiration
22:29for
22:29you
22:30inspiration
22:32you
22:34inspiration
22:41yes
22:41no
22:42yes
22:43yes
22:45and
22:46Nathana
22:47what about
22:47you
22:47of course
22:49like lot
22:49of
22:49what's your
22:50message to
22:51youngsters
22:51as I said
22:53before
22:53like
22:54don't
22:55like
22:55we are
22:57not going
22:57to be
22:57ready for
22:58anything
22:58we will
23:00start
23:01something
23:01we need
23:02to start
23:02something
23:03and
23:03gradually
23:04it will
23:05give you
23:06that confidence
23:06to
23:07like
23:08go through
23:09actually
23:10yeah
23:10otherwise
23:11like don't
23:12think like
23:12yeah
23:13I will
23:14start when
23:14I'm ready
23:15and all
23:16that
23:16no
23:16it's not
23:17going to
23:17be like
23:17that
23:18you will
23:19the confidence
23:20will not
23:21come before
23:22you get
23:23get into
23:24that opportunity
23:24it will
23:25gradually
23:26when you
23:27took that
23:27opportunity
23:28it will
23:28gradually
23:29improve
23:29your
23:29confidence
23:29and
23:30it's not
23:30going to
23:31be like
23:31this dream
23:32that you
23:32achieve
23:32you have
23:33to work
23:33and build
23:34on it
23:34yeah
23:34yeah
23:35okay
23:36yes
23:36it's impossible
23:37you should
23:38have the
23:38passion
23:38and you
23:39should work
23:40towards it
23:40yeah
23:41you will
23:41achieve
23:42amazing
23:42thank you
23:43so much
23:44thank you
23:44so much
23:44for joining
23:45us
23:45a round
23:45of applause
23:46please
23:46as we
23:47thank
23:47Shiji
23:48Nathana
23:48and
23:48Commander
23:49Prasanna
23:49for joining
23:50us