Tripura’s first woman loco pilot felicitated by CM
Agartala, Feb 5: It was a moment of women empowerment, inclusive development and empathetic leadership visible at a single frame.
Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha on February 4 evening felicitated Debolina Roy. She is the state’s first woman Assistant Loco Pilot.
Dr Saha felicitated Roy during his return journey on Tripura’s newly launched electric train service.
The Chief Minister was travelling back to Agartala by train after completing day-long official engagements in Unakoti district. On board, he was informed that one of the locomotive crew members operating the train was Tripura’s Debolina Roy.
A resident of Ramnagar in Agartala, she holds the distinction of being the first woman from Tripura to serve as an Assistant Loco Pilot in the Indian Railways.
Moved by the information, Dr. Saha expressed his desire to meet her personally. Upon the train’s arrival at Agartala railway station, the Chief Minister met Debolina and felicitated her, congratulating her for breaking barriers in a profession traditionally dominated by men.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Saha said he felt proud to learn that a daughter of Tripura was part of the locomotive crew.
He remarked that while discussions on women empowerment are common, witnessing women taking up technical and operational responsibilities reflects its real and visible impact.
The Chief Minister noted that daughters of Tripura are now excelling across sectors, including aviation and railways, and described Debolina’s achievement as a matter of pride for the entire state.
He added that recognising such achievements is important to encourage more young women to pursue careers in diverse fields.
The interaction gained added significance as Dr. Saha was travelling on Tripura’s first electric train service, which began operations just two days ago.
Expressing satisfaction, he said travelling on the electric train marked a new chapter in the state’s railway infrastructure and development journey.
For Debolina Roy, who joined the Railways around three and a half years ago, the unexpected recognition turned into a memorable experience.
She said meeting the Chief Minister for the first time and receiving his appreciation made her feel proud and motivated.
She shared that the Chief Minister congratulated her and enquired about her experience in operating trains and the duration of her service.
Debolina said her journey is not only a personal milestone but also a message of encouragement for other girls.
She expressed hope that more young women would feel inspired to enter non-traditional professions and said the progress of women across all sectors would contribute to the country’s overall development.
The brief yet warm interaction at the railway station stood out as a symbolic moment. It highlights how leadership is reflected not only through policies and projects, but also through simple gestures.
It acknowledges achievement, inspire confidence and reinforce the ideals of inclusive growth, people present opined.