Ritika Tirkey has been entrusted with ensuring the safe operation of the Vande Bharat Express train. Thus she became India’s first tribal woman loco-pilot. Before this Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off the Tata-Patna Vande Bharat Express on Sunday. This train was being operated by loco pilot SS Munda and Ritika Tirkey (27) as assistants. Ritika, from the tribal community of Jharkhand, is hailed as an icon of women empowerment and a trailblazer for the tribal society.

Champai Soren greeted Ritika Tirkey

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren posted on social media on Thursday that Ritika Tirkey is running Vande Bharat Express with full confidence. She is Jharkhand’s daughter and the country’s first woman tribal assistant loco pilot to run Vande Bharat. Furthermore, EX-CM wrote that this is the new India, in which this daughter of the tribal community is making our society and state proud with her education and talent.

Moreover, Champai Soren advised educating daughters and giving them a chance to move forward. Then only they will be able to come forward and lead the society and the country. Only then women’s empowerment will be visible on the ground.

Ritika joined Railways in 2019

Ritika Tirkey is originally from Gumla and now she lives with her husband in Jamshedpur. After obtaining a BE degree from BIT, Mesra, Ritika chose her career in Indian Railways. She joined the Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway (SER) in 2019 as a shunter. After that, she drove freight and passenger trains before being promoted to the rank of Senior Assistant Loco Pilot. Presently, she has the opportunity to assist in running the Vande Bharat Express.

Speaking to the media on the eve of flagging off the Vande Bharat Express, Ritika Tirkey said that she believes that women in India can achieve all their goals if they work hard. Ritika Tirkey said, “Opting for the Railways over a conventional job always felt like an adventure.” I would love to see more women pursue this as a career. Women can always lead.” Ritika said, “Yes, I am very happy to get this opportunity and I will give my best. I believe that women in India can achieve everything, provided they have the passion.”

Deepak Jha, Principal Chief Operation Manager (SER), said that Ritika Tirkey will inspire other women, including women from the tribal community, to aspire to make a career in the Railways.