Breaking Barriers

"Like me anyone can defy the odds and venture into a profession dominated by men. Skills and confidence is all you need," says 32-year-old Amrita Bhandari, a certified JCB Heavy Equipment Operator.

Bhandari completed her Heavy Equipment Operator Training at JCB Operators’ Training Centre (OTC) in Bhaktapur in September 2019 and has since obtained her license. “This profession has been deemed as non-traditional for women, and a lot of people will try to talk you out of it, but the training has prepared me to take on this job and I am excited to be venturing into this profession,” says Bhandari who is currently working at Government of Nepal’s Department of Roads and aspires to be one of the first women operators employed by the Department.

Similarly, 31-year-old Sita Acharya has also completed her Excavator Operator’s Training from the OTC in Bhaktapur and has received the JCB India certification. She now awaits her license. “With the hope of financially supporting my family, I started working in government and private organizations but could not continue due to my lower academic qualification,” shares Acharya who has only completed her secondary school level education. "I decided to take the operator’s training after hearing about it on the radio. Luckily my husband also supported this decision since he is an employee in the transport office in Nepalgunj and believed that there is space for women in this field."

27-year-old Chuna Magar also wants to challenge the stereotype and hopes to pursue a career in this field. Having completed her higher education, Magar wanted to be skilled in a technical field. She then heard about the operator’s training on the radio and joined the training in September 2020. "After completion of my training in a month’s time, my first goal is to get my license and then look for job opportunities. I am confident that I will excel at it,” shares Magar.

As part of its partnership with the UKaid Skills for Employment Programme (सीप), MAW Earthmovers Pvt Ltd (MEPL) is making a conscious effort to promote women in the field of heavy equipment, where women operators are typically unheard of. As a part of its strategy to enrol more women and people from disadvantaged communities into the HEOs Training, MEPL has introduced inclusive marketing campaigns and is also providing scholarships to 50 deserving, underprivileged applicants who cannot afford the training on their own. Besides establishment of the JCB OTC and improved infrastructure at JCB OTC at Nepalgunj, MEPL is forging partnerships with local organisations--including NGOs and community networks--to ensure onboarding of the targeted job seekers from P2 and P5.