Safety, not gender, rules at Gujarat air traffic control

Gender has never been an issue at Ahmedabad air traffic control (ATC), where four women air traffic controllers work alongside 54 male colleagues to ensure that flights through and from the area operate smoothly.

“We (men and women) have the same responsibility,” said Aryama Sanyal, joint general manager, Ahmedabad airport ATC.

“In fact, we complement each other at work. There is no question of gender discrimination in this office. Once you are in the seat of a controller, your gender doesn’t matter,” she adds.

Sanyal will be felicitated with Best Woman Achiever Award on International Woman’s Day (Tuesday) by the civil aviation ministry in New Delhi, for her contribution to the aviation sector.

Safety is the main concern for her and her colleagues. “A controller must leave his or her emotions at home and concentrate on ensuring a safe journey for passengers. Being a woman amid so many men does not affect our work. We share all responsibilities equally,” says Sheetal Trivedi who shares her office with husband Dinesh Tripathi.

And, “No!” is the unanimous response to whether there is an upside or downside to being a woman in a highly technical field.

“Right from childhood I never faced any discrimination because of my gender. There is a huge element of risk in our work and to handle that, you need to have faith in yourself and the pilots,” said Jagriti Gupta. The fourth woman controller is Rishu Rastogi.