Work is worship for Shaini Rajeev. She is the first woman in the State to be in charge of a Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) outlet, selling liquor. Shaini is enjoying every bit of her job . She completes one year in office at the Bevco sales outlet at Puthenvelikkara near North Paravoor. “The beverages industry in Kerala is under the control of the State government, with strict laws and guidelines. . I am part of the system that sells liquor in a legalised way,” says Shaini, a former school teacher.
The appointment of Shaini in the Bevco sales outlet did whip up a gender controversy. She had appeared for the PSC test for the post of LD Clerk in Beverages Corporation in 2010. The result came in 2012, in which she had secured a place in the rank list. However, Bevco was not ready for appointing women in sales outlets citing security problems and Abkari laws. But Bevco was ready to appoint women in its regional, head offices and godowns. But the vacancies at Bevco offices were not enough to accommodate all those in the rank list. Shaini, along with Divya Kumari in the rank list, challenged the stand of Bevco in the High Court.
Bevco contented in the court that as per the then existing Abkari rules, only men were eligible for appointment in liquor sales outlets. (The Bevco outlets function from 10 am to 9 pm). The women duo argued against gender discrimination and the High Court ordered that if women rank holders were willing to serve at outlets, Bevco has to consider them for the post. The court allowed Bevco to amend Abkari rules resulting in the appointment of Shaini in October 2017. (Meanwhile, Divya Kumari got an appointment in KSFE and left without joining Bevco).
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“When I went to join the Bevco head office in Thiruvananthapuram last year, the then Managing Director, H Venkitesh IPS had offered me an office job, lest any problem occurs at the sales outlet. But I haven’t faced any issues at the outlet either from my male colleagues or customers till date. As my home is just 5km from the outlet, it is easy for me. On the other hand, Bevco regional office and godowns are further away for me,” says Shaini, going through the bills and vouchers of previous day’s sale. Among the 10-member staff at the outlet, Shaini is in charge of the outlet overseeing stock, sales, bills, vouchers and customers. She multitasks as billing clerk, sales woman and stock-taking official . After Shaini assumed charge, the place has become a bit more peaceful. People give consideration to her as a woman, say Muraleedharan, Varghese Jayan, Prakasan, Sahadevan, her colleagues alike.
“Women shouldn’t be barred from doing any job, based on their gender. Liquor consumption has not been banned in the country. Moreover, the government has control over distilleries and breweries, checking their qualities,” she says.
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She gets enough support from her husband Rajeev, a farmer and her two children. “Even when I get promotion as UD Clerk, I can continue in the same outlet, provided the Bevco management allows me,” Shaini concludes.