Mother of two daughters becomes Haryana Roadways' first woman conductor
Chandigarh, Oct 28: A differently abled mother of two daughters has become the Haryana Roadways' first woman bus conductor, thanks to the ongoing strike by the state roadways employees, forcing the government to launch a recruitment drive for drivers and conductors.
32-year-old Sharmilla, hailing from a village in Rewari district, had been looking for a job for long to support her family and got it amid the ongoing strike, which has turned out to be roadways employees' longest ever.
"Both I and my husband were unemployed. We are raising two daughters. I had been looking for a job for last 8 to 10 years and when I learnt about this vacancy, I applied against it and got the job," she said.
Clad in a pair of jeans and a shirt, Sharmilla has been performing her duties after joining the Rewari depot Wednesday.
"I am very happy now. I am getting good support and respect from the people. They appreciate what I am doing," she said.
Sharmilla said she faces 40 per cent disability in one of her legs, but she has never let it stand in her way.
"I am Haryana's first lady conductor and I am so happy to get this job. I have joined my duties three days ago and have learnt most of the things related to ticketing," said Sharmilla proudly.
Sharmilla is among the two women who were recruited as bus conductors, the other one being Nirmala Rani, who has joined duty on Sirsa-Ellenabad route.
Earlier this year, 30-year-old Archana had become the first and only woman driver of the Karnal city bus service.
The Haryana Roadways employees had Thursday decided to further extend their strike till October 29 as their fresh round of talks with the government failed to make any headway.
The employees are on strike since October 16 against the government's decision to hire 700 buses from private owners.
There are about 19,000 employees in the Haryana Roadways, catering to 12 lakh passengers daily with a fleet of 4,100 buses.
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50% of US student visas cancelled under Trump affect Indians: Study
Washington: A study by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) reveals that Indians account for 50% of the 327 student visa revocations carried out by the United States since the Trump administration. The US government, using Artificial Intelligence to screen social media posts, has been targeting international students, including those without any history of protest, for visa cancellations and removals under the “catch and revoke” program.
The Congress party, led by Jairam Ramesh, has raised concerns about the arbitrary nature of these cancellations, which have instilled fear and uncertainty among affected students. The Ministry of External Affairs has assured that the Indian embassy and consulate are in contact with the impacted students to offer assistance.
The study highlights that 50% of the affected students were on Optional Practical Training (OPT) and had already graduated. The report describes these actions as unprecedented and calls for greater transparency and accountability. Additionally, the AILA advocates for reforms that would allow students to appeal the terminations of their SEVIS records without affecting their employment status.
Countries such as China, South Korea, Nepal, and Bangladesh have also been affected, with China accounting for the second-highest number of revocations after India. Many of these students faced police interactions for minor offenses, though most were not charged or convicted.
