CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu may see more women conductors on government buses in the next few months as the state transport department has revised the height requirement for female conductors by 10cm from 160cm to 150cm. Applicants, however, must still have a minimum weight of 45kg.
Of the 26,000 buses being operated across the state, about 19,500 of them are government buses while the rest are private ones. Though the combined workers strength of eight state transport corporations is about 90,000, there are only a handful of women conductors in the state.
The relaxation in the eligibility norm will benefit both the daughters and spouses of transport workers who lost their lives on duty, allowing them to secure jobs on compassionate grounds. It will also facilitate new conductor appointments in MTC and six other transport corporations.
A G.O. was issued by department secretary K Phanindra Reddy two weeks ago. The State Express Transport Corporation, which operates long-distance buses, is exempted from these amended rules since it hires driver-cum-conductors.
An official said, “The common recruitment rules for conductor appointments will also apply to those hired on contract basis through private agencies.” Currently, Villupuram TNSTC, MTC, and a few other corporations employ conductors on contract basis.
Last year, several transport unions, including TNSTEF, urged the government to relax the physical eligibility criteria for women for conductor positions. Previously, both male and female applicants were required to meet the same height standard of 160 cm.
However, unions pointed out that the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board follows different eligibility criteria for men and women, particularly in height, weight, and chest measurements, for the recruitment of police constables and other posts.