Punjab to get women firefighters soon, find out how

The announcement by Mann came after he formally inaugurated his government’s ‘Aap Di Sarkar Aap De Dwaar’ programme at Bhankharpur village in Mohali where two women met him on the sidelines and explained how no woman, including them, could clear the physical test for recruitment as firefighter.

The women, Deepika and Harpreet Kaur, both residents of Bhankharpur village had cleared the written exam.

“I was unable to lift 60 kg weight. So was the case with almost all the woman aspirants. They cleared the written exam but were not able to pass the physical fitness test. There was a 100-m race too,” Deepika told The Indian Express after meeting the CM.

Mother to a minor daughter, Deepika said, “There were 1400 women who could not clear the test. They (government) recently came out with the selection list two days ago. All the selected people are males. I do not know what happened to the posts of firewomen”.

Deepika, a BEd degree holder, said that over years she applied for various jobs but could not land any. She claimed to have cleared all teachers’ eligibility tests but was yet to be recruited as she could not make it to the merit list. Then she applied for the firewoman recruitment test.

Harpreet Kaur, an MSc in IT from Patiala-based Punjabi University was also among the women who could not make it as a firefighter.

“It is for the first time that a CM has listened to us. We sat on a dharna also on the day the physical fitness test was conducted. But the police asked us to disperse. But today, we tried and met the CM, who listed to our grievance,” said Harpreet.

Taking to the podium, Mann announced such rules need to go. “These two women just met me with their problem. I assure you that from now on, no women will have to undergo such strenuous physical fitness test. I am told these were meant to ensure that they are able to rescue a 60-kg person who is caught up in fire. But does everybody weigh 60 kg? Would these women be alone in case of fire? I do not know who have been making such rules. I will certainly change them. I assure you both that your written exam results would not go waste.

It would be considered. I will call for the file within this week only,” said the CM.

Apart from covering a a distance of 100 yards carrying a weight of 60 kg in one minute, the firefighter aspirants must be able to lift the hook ladder to a vertical position and climb a rope or a vertical pipe to a height of 8-10 feet from the ground.