In the past month as an attendant at the Perungudi toll plaza, which is usually a male bastion, C. Malar has picked up a few pointers — speak only if you are spoken to; say welcome when someone says “thank you”.
“See the sindhoor on my forehead? When men see it, they automatically address me as akka (elder sister),” said Ms. Malar, who is just settling into the job, her first. “I took up the job so I can help with the children’s school fees.
For a few days though, she was apprehensive about interacting with strangers, but now, she is only worried about her work timing, which is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., clashing with that of her children.
When Tamil Nadu Road Development Company Ltd (TNRDC) that manages Rajiv Gandhi Salai and the East Coast Road scouted for toll plaza attendants this year, they wanted to break the routine and appoint women. “There are seven women in all at the ECR-OMR link road plaza and at Perungudi and when we took them in, we told them they have to interact with men, who may even be drunk at times. But we ensure that we have supervisors at all times in the plazas,” explained an official. “The supervisor is always present even if there is a small issue, I ask them to step in. Often we have problems with local politicians refusing to pay the toll. Sometimes motorists ask us why they have to buy another ticket when they have one already and so on,” said J. Chitra, a resident of Perungudi.
Another attendant who loves this job is young Chitra Sivalingam who is pursuing M.A. Tamil and also working part-time at the Chennai airport. “I find the timing, pay and work atmosphere very comfortable,” she said. Women attendants are being recruited in toll plazas managed by the National Highways Authority of India as well.