They are set to be city’s first firewomen

Swati Satpute and Sheetal Salve are all set to breach one of the last remaining male bastions the fire brigade

They are set to be city's first firewomen

Swati Satpute and Sheetal Salve are all set to breach one of the last remaining male bastions the fire brigade

TWO women from the city are all set to breach one of the last male bastions as they prepare to don the dark blue tunic and trousers of the Mumbai Fire Brigade.

Having flung themselves onto jumping sheets from a height of 20 feet and having put up a stellar performance in the 800-metre run, shot put and long jump events, Swati Satpute (27) and Sheetal Salve (25) are only a medical exam away from becoming Mumbai's first firewomen.

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Swati Satpute and Sheetal Salve

Satpute and Salve were among 10 female candidates who took part in the recruitment drive at the BMC Security Training Centre in Bhandup (West) yesterday. While one woman was disqualified immediately for not meeting the height and weight requirements (see box), the duo was shortlisted from the remaining nine.

When MiD DAY caught up with Salve at her Dombivli residence, the ecstatic mother of one said, "I have never taken part in athletics but I still gave becoming a firewoman a shot.
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Initially, I was very apprehensive of jumping from a height of 20 feet. However, I closed my eyes and decided I had to complete the task. I am very happy at being shortlisted."

Her husband, Arun, who works for a private company, said, "I am happy she has cleared the first hurdle. I will always support her despite knowing that the job is a risky one."

When Satpute's sons, aged seven and 10, heard about their mother being shortlisted yesterday, even they decided to be firemen when they grow up.
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"I wanted to get into the police force earlier and had applied for the fire brigade without giving it much thought.

I am very happy at being selected, however, as I have been wanting to do something like this for a long time," she said from her Dharavi residence.

Satpute said the income from her new job will also help support the family as her electrician husband, Babasaheb, is the sole bread-winner.
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"I will earn Rs 800 per month during the six-month training period, but later I will get Rs 14,000 per month, which will be more than enough for my whole family."

Official reactions

Additional Municipal Commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar was excited to learn about the duo's performance. "The move follows the state government's decision to have 33 per cent reservation for women in the service sector. Only the Chennai and Hyderabad fire brigades have women firefighters at present."

Senior fire officers who conducted the selection process said that they were looking to fill 35 posts, out of which 8 were reserved for women. They said they were disappointed that only 10 women turned up.

"I am not very happy at the number of women candidates. We spent over Rs 3 lakh on advertising for the recruitment drive and while over 400 men participated, only 9 women turned up.

So, while we will get the creme-de-la-creme of male candidates, the same cannot be said about women," said Chief Fire Officer Uday Tatkare.

"I hope that the two women who are shortlisted get selected in their medical examination.

They will have to undergo a six-month fire fighting training programme on a monthly stipend of Rs 800 before they are absorbed as firewomen on an initial salary of more than Rs 14,000 the same as firemen," said Tatkare.

Requirements
The following requirements have to be met by female candidates applying to the fire brigade:
Age: Not over 30 years (concession according to reservation)
Height: At least 165 cmu00a0
Weight: At least 50 kg
Minimum qualification: HSC pass with 60 per cent marks

Rs 14,000
Monthly salary of a fire fighter

Rs 800
Monthly stipend during the six-month training period for the women fire fighters

8
Number of posts reserved for women in the fire department