Itanagar: High in the rugged Himalayas, where temperatures often drop below 20°C and altitudes exceed 15,000 feet, nine Tibetan refugee women are defying norms and reshaping lives while contributing to nation-building.
Employed by the 763 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) under Project Vartak, these women support nearly 50 dependents through their earnings, according to Defence spokesperson Lt Col Mahendra Rawat.
“What began as a livelihood opportunity has become a journey of dignity and transformation. Empowering even a handful of women uplifts entire families and communities,” he said.
Traditionally considered men’s work, high-altitude construction and manual labour are now shared by these women, who break stones, carry heavy loads, and assist in road-building across treacherous mountain terrain.
“They are not only building roads; they are building futures,” Lt Col Rawat added.
For these women, working with the 763 BRTF provides more than wages.
It offers economic independence, access to education for their children, healthcare, and decision-making power within their households.
“It also fosters solidarity among them as a sisterhood of strength,” the Defence PRO stated.
To ensure safety and dignity, the BRTF provides skill training and essential protective gear, including jackets, raincoats, boots, and gloves, enabling the women to work safely in unforgiving conditions.
Every stone they lift and every road they help lay serves as a lifeline for remote border villages and a strategic asset for the nation.
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“Their work reflects a unique bond of shared hardship and shared progress. In this festive season, these nine women truly embody the divine spirit: mothers, workers, breadwinners, and nation-builders,” Lt Col Rawat said.
The BRTF operates under the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which functions under the Ministry of Defence.
BRO undertakes infrastructure development for key government agencies, including the Ministries of Defence, Home Affairs, Road Transport & Highways, External Affairs, and others, ensuring essential connectivity and uninterrupted logistics support for the nation’s security forces.
