Women break barriers at Kerala's Vizhinjam port
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The Vizhinjam deep-sea port in Kerala is not only the country's mega transshipment terminal but also holds the distinction of employing women, particularly from the local fishing community, to operate its huge automated CRMG cranes.
Nine women are working alongside their male counterparts in a traditionally male-dominated profession, breaking into yet another field long considered a male bastion.
Since the fully automated Cantilever Rail Mounted Gantry (CRMG) cranes are not present at any other port in India, the women at Vizhinjam are the first to operate such machinery in the country, according to a port official.
Of the nine women, seven hail from the nearby fishing community, which had staged extensive protests in 2022 against the seaport’s construction.
While all of them are BSc graduates, for most, this is their first regular income job.
Prinu, a 30-year-old BSc Chemistry graduate, had completed her BEd course and was planning to take up teaching when she landed the job as a CRMG crane operator.
Her father and husband are both fishermen, but their earnings from fishing are insufficient.
She then learned that the port was hiring crane operators, giving priority to local residents, particularly those from Vizhinjam, and to women.
"Everyone said that the job was guaranteed, so I applied and was selected as a fresher. I joined six months ago. There was a one-month training period, followed by a couple of months of supervised work. Now, I operate the crane independently," she told PTI.
Her earnings have provided a financial boost to her family, she said.
Describing her work, she explained that since the cranes are fully automated, handling containers arriving from ships and transferring them to the yard trucks is not particularly challenging.
"It becomes difficult when we have to manually pick up and load containers onto trucks. That part can be a bit challenging," she said.
Regarding the earlier protests, she clarified that the fishing community was not against the port.
"We protested only because some of our demands were not addressed. The people here wanted the port," she said, adding that she intends to continue in this field and will not return to teaching.
"This is not as hectic as teaching," she added.
There are 24 Cantilever Rail Mounted Gantry (CRMG) cranes, or yard cranes, at Vizhinjam, available in various capacities and sizes to accommodate different container loads, ensuring swift, secure, and automated container handling, according to a port official.
Twenty people operate these cranes, including nine women, the official added.
While Prinu was a fresher, L Karthika, 27, had prior experience handling cranes.
Karthika, a native of Neyyattinkara, worked at a port in Kochi for a year before joining the Vizhinjam seaport in 2023. She holds a diploma in instrumentation and engineering.
"When I joined, there was nothing here. Initially, I was sent to Gujarat for a month of training, and by the time I returned, the cranes had arrived," she said.
She explained that she chose this job because it was closer to her husband’s home in Neyyattinkara and was fully automated.
As an experienced operator, Karthika has also trained some of the fresh recruits.
Describing her work, she said that most of the time, they monitor the CRMG cranes' operations, but sometimes they must intervene manually using joysticks at their desks in case of a malfunction.
The 20 crane operators work in two 12-hour shifts—8 am to 8 pm and 8 pm to 8 am—with adequate rest periods during working hours, she said.
The company provides shift-based transportation for workers, she added.
Karthika emphasised that the job has been a financial boost for the women recruits, many of whom were previously housewives.
According to port sources, the other women crane operators are S Anisha (29), L Sunitha Raj (35), D R Stefy Rebeira (30), R N Rajitha (36), P Asha Lakshmi (33), A V Sreedevi (37), and J D Nathana Mary.
The deep-water port has been developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), India’s largest port developer and part of the Adani Group, under a public-private partnership model at an estimated cost of Rs 8,867 crore.
The port received its commercial commissioning certificate on December 4 last year following a successful trial run.
The state government has stated that the Vizhinjam port will be commissioned as soon as Prime Minister Narendra Modi finalises a date.
The port is expected to be fully operational by 2028 upon completion of its second, third, and fourth phases.
Here is another answer to those who asked if there are jobs for locals in Trivandrum Port Vizhinjam.
— Great Kerala (@GreatKerala1) March 7, 2025
Women crane operators at the port are setting a shining example of women empowerment. 9 women operators, including 7 from Vizhinjam, are controlling the operation of yard cranes pic.twitter.com/4C6YQL7QwK
We are proud to share that our women crane operators at Adani Vizhinjam Port are setting a shining example of empowerment! On this special #WomensDay, we celebrate the nine women operators who are managing the operations of the yard cranes (CRMG) at the port. This marks the first… pic.twitter.com/Ynfm75sAEV
— Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd (@Adaniports) March 8, 2025
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Bhojshala case: Disputed structure built from remains of pre-existing temples, claims ASI
Indore (PTI): The ASI has told the Madhya Pradesh High Court that a massive structure dating back to the Paramara kings' rule existed at the disputed Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex, and the current structure was built from the remains of temples.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) made the claim on Tuesday based on its 98-day scientific survey and over 2,000-page report.
The Hindu community considers Bhojshala a temple dedicated to Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the Muslim side claims the monument as the Kamal Maula Mosque. The disputed complex is protected by the ASI.
During the hearing before Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi of the HC's Indore bench, Additional Solicitor General Sunil Kumar Jain, representing the ASI, presented a detailed account of the scientific survey conducted two years ago at the complex.
Referring to the ASI's survey report, he said, "Retrieved architectural remains, sculptural fragments, large slabs of inscriptions with literary texts, Nagakarnika inscriptions on pillars, etc, suggest that a large structure associated with literary and educational activities existed at the site. Based on scientific investigations and archaeological remains recovered during the investigations, this pre-existing structure can be dated to the Paramara period."
It can be said that the existing structure was made from the parts of earlier temples, based on scientific investigations, survey and archaeological excavations conducted, study and analysis of retrieved finds, study of architectural remains, sculptures, and inscriptions, art and sculptures, Jain said quoting the report.
Summarising the report, he also drew the court's attention to the fact that the archaeological study identifies that many architectural components, such as pillars and beams, were originally part of temple structures before being repurposed for a mosque.
"The evidence of this transition includes Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions that were damaged or hidden, alongside sculptures of deities and animals that were often mutilated or defaced," Jain contended.
The report also states that "all Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions are older than the Arabic and Persian inscriptions, indicating that users or engravers of the Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions occupied the place earlier".
In light of the Muslim side's earlier objections, the bench wanted to know why there were some discrepancies in the ASI's responses regarding the status of the disputed complex in the cases filed over the years.
The Additional Solicitor General argued that earlier studies of the complex involved only officials, while the current survey involved scientists and the use of advanced technologies such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR).
The hearing in the Bhojshala case will continue on Wednesday.
The high court has been regularly hearing four petitions and one writ appeal regarding the religious nature of the Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex since April 6.
