Mangaluru : Air India Express in Mangaluru joined the nation celebrating Women’s Day when its flight IX 885 Mangaluru-Dammam-Mangaluru was flown by an all-woman crew on Tuesday evening. 

It was an all-woman affair right from the check-in barring a few loaders and engineering personnel, for the flight that left at 5.05 p.m.

The aircraft that had 159 passengers and 10 infants was commanded by Tanya Anand with Yuvika Sandhoo as the first officer for the four-hour flight. Deepa Natarajan headed the cabin crew with Neha Bijoria, Shalini Kinkar and Chinju Chandran assisting her. Mangaluru’s Air India Station Manager Nagesh Shetty organised a token ceremony, cutting of a cake, to mark the event.

Captain Tanya Anand had been part of all-woman crew on International Women’s Day on three earlier occasions, including twice as the commander while Captain Yuvika Sandhoo was part of all-woman crew for the second time on Women’s Day. Both are flying together for the second time incidentally.

Captain Tanya Anand, who has eight years flying experience, said that it is a normal day for her and she had been part of all-woman crew on other days apart from Women’s Day. However, commanding the aircraft on March 8 feels special in view of media attention, she said.

Mr. Nagesh Shetty said that Air India Express operated four all-woman international flights from South India and 20 domestic flights across the country on Tuesday.

The Bankers Institute of Rural Development, Mangaluru, celebrated the day by felicitating eight women achievers from different walks of life.

Aruna P. Kamath, Principal, SDM College of Business Management, Shailaja K., General Manager, SCDCC Bank, Shilpa, owner of Halli Mane Rottis (mobile canteen), Nayana Pai, advocate, Poornima Shetty, CEO, Navodaya GVCT, Sumana, micro entrepreneur, Shubalakshmi, senior inspector, SCDCC Bank, and Smita Shenoy, president, Shree Gajanana SHG, Mangaluru, were the ones felicitated.

Speaking on the occasion, BIRD’s Joint Director Kamalakshi S. Pai urged women to believe in themselves, have self-esteem and contribute their mite for the empowerment of society.

Meanwhile, Ms. Shilpa of Halli Mane was felicitated by Lions Club of Netravathi at her residence on Tuesday in recognition of her single-handed achievement in attaining self-reliance.

The District Small Scale Industries Association too celebrated Women’s Day with Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim inaugurating the celebrations in the presence of Mayor Jacinta Vijay Alfreed, Zilla Panchayat CEO P.I. Shreevidya and association’s women’s wing president Kusuma H. Devadiga. The association felicitated Lakshmi Manjunath Rao of Manjunath Tread Rubber, Sajina of BRR Products, Vandana Karunakar of Vishnu Engineering, Shyamala Shasthri of Prakruthi Foods and Radhika K. Nayak of New Adilakshmi Industries.

At the official function, district in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai felicitated Manjula, a government employee, and D. Aruna and Anupa Yarangal, both anganwadi assistants, for their contribution to society on the zilla panchayat premises.