The Mizo woman who broke all barriers: L Tochhong

India has always struggled with providing equal opportunities for women. May it be educational, sanitation related, or workplace related.  Some women however, have managed to cross all such hurdles and have emerged as heroes inspiring women all across the country. One such woman is the first woman from Mizoram to become an IAS officer- L. Tochhong.

Having joined the services in 1979, she broke two more records last year as she also became the first woman to be the Chief Secretary of the state, and the first Mizo woman to do so. For a while, she was also appointed as the State Election Commissioner.  In an interview with The Indian Express she said, “I do not like to feel that I am a woman because that means I am insecure and I do not want that to be a drawback for me.”

Throughout her career, she served at many posts across different states in the country. She was a probationer in Thane, Maharashtra, Goa, Delhi and then Mizoram. As a child, Tochhong wanted to be an air-hostess or a doctor but when she grew up she realized her potential and started to seriously consider civil services.

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Tochhong doesn’t believe that her gender limits her. She adds, “I would also advise other women to never let that be a drawback. In a workplace there is no gender. Even if they try to put you down with some condescension or something else I think one should build up that barrier so that you are never touched by these things,”  recalling her personal experience she adds, “I had a very happy equation with our Ministers,” she reminiscences, “I think our political leaders have matured a lot over the years.”

Now that her career has come to an end, she says she has no regrets and is ending it with a sense of satisfaction.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: The Indian Express

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/meet-tochhon-the-first-mizo-woman-to-join-ias/2/