Women take charge

Bouncer

She tried her hand at clerical jobs,worked as a telephone operator and even tutored students,but Sulakshoana Thombre knew that she had found her calling when she became a bouncer. “In my office job,I would observe the security personnel. Their body language exuded a confidence I knew I lacked,” says the 36-year-old,who has six years of experience as a bouncer. When a friend informed Thombre of an opening in the events industry for female bouncers,she jumped at the opportunity. She currently works with a leading security agency in Mumbai where she is in charge of the events department.

Her confidence helps Thombre manage crowds at the events. “The body language makes all the difference. Most of the crowd we deal with is educated,but public events often have a few rowdies,” she explains. What she most cherishes about the job,however,is that it has given her the wings she so desired. The need to travel across Mumbai and sometimes even to other cities,has helped Thombre discover new worlds outside of the Andheri-Kurla neighbourhood she grew up in. Though she has her family’s support,Thombre,still single,needs to keep late and long hours,which worries her parents. “With a rise in crime against women,their concern is understandable. But given the fitness levels we are expected to keep,I feel confident of tackling unwanted incidents.”

Madhuri Patil

Assistant Police Inspector – Traffic

Her father and maternal grandfather were policemen,so Madhuri Patil developed a love for the uniform early in life. Being a girl from a middle-class family meant additional responsibilities of home and family,but,at no point,did she consider a sedentary job in the police force. “I had always liked sports and fitness,so my alternative to being in the police was training to be a sports coach,” says Patil,who started her career as sub-inspector with Mumbai Police in 1997.

Although more attuned to crime and criminals than many others owing to her family background,Patil says that nothing prepared her for the job. “It’s only when you are thrown headlong into it that you learn how to deal with the emotions and minds of both regular people and criminals,” she says. A few years ago,she had to tackle a mentally unstable man brandishing a huge knife. “We tried talking him into giving up the weapon,but he was adamant. Somehow,I mustered up the courage to and grab it from his hand,and suddenly,the ordeal was over,” she says.

The toughest part of her job,however,is dealing with rape cases. Overlooking the distraught condition of their daughter,most parents prefer not to report the case. Patil,in such cases,is required to counsel both the victim and her parents. “Very often,precious time is lost due to which we fail to collect the evidence needed to nail the culprit,” she rues.

Patil has served across various departments of police before her current posting in Kalina,Santa Cruz,as Assistant Police Inspector-Traffic. The 42-year-old mother of two serves a 12-hour shift every day,mostly on the field,though she doesn’t need to deal with serious offenders as often. She misses the thrill and hopes that the scheduled transfer next year will take her back to active policing.

Sunita Yadav

chauffeur

Her job allows Sunita Yadav to follow her passion while indulging her matronly instincts. A driver with a cab service that ferries only female passengers in cars driven by women,Yadav has recently joined their staff. But the four month-experience is enough to convince her that it is her calling. “I like looking after other people and I also enjoy driving. Here,I’m getting to do both,” she says.

Originally from Varanasi,the 22-year-old moved to Mumbai in 2007. In the city,she would watch women drive,which intrigued her. It was her sister’s support that encouraged Yadav to learn driving.

The former warned her that she should see it through properly since money was being invested in it. It took all of 21 days for Yadav to learn and in October last year,she took up a job at the cab service where she brushed up her skill at their training school.

Though new to her job,Yadav is glad that the three clients she has served,chose to avail her services multiple times. While her company has,in the past,faced problems with male taxi drivers from other companies,Yadav says she hasn’t had any bad experiences. She says that traffic policemen and some taxi drivers have been forthcoming when she has needed help.