Posted on 12th September 2022
BMC's first woman director, Archana Achrekar builds an inclusive legacy
By Poorvi Gupta
From delayed promotions to men who refused to take orders, Archana Achrekar has fought several gender biases and paved the way for more women employees at Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
Since 1888, the year when BMC was founded, no woman engineer had been appointed as director. Achrekar’s post comes third in the municipal administration hierarchy, after the commissioner and the additional municipal commissioner.
Women civil engineers were a rare sight in the country when Archana Achrekar joined the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in 1984. Though India got its first female civil engineer in Shakuntala Bhagat almost 30 years prior, things were seldom rosy for Achrekar.
Achrekar landed the appointment in 2020 and proved her mettle despite the roadblocks set by COVID-19.
When she landed the appointment in June 2020, Achrekar (60) was the first woman to head the Engineering Services and Projects section at the BMC, in the 132 years of its existence. However, her path was strewn with obstacles: delayed promotions, a misogynistic work atmosphere and restricted access to the field, among other things.
Achrekar studied at Mumbai-based Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, the same college from where Bhagat graduated in 1953.
However, she knew how passionate she was about engineering. The aspects of design and fieldwork that she learnt in her final year consultancy project at M/s Gadiyali and Rawal Consulting Engineers truly solidified her passion for civil engineering. That lit a fire in her belly, which she continued to carry with her until her retirement in September last year.
From desk job to fieldwork
Fieldwork was a part of her consultant job. At the BMC, however, Achrekar had to wait for two years to get her first project. “Back then, women working as field engineers were frowned upon. Therefore, I was assigned a desk job. I was the only woman in meetings; my peers would not take me seriously or hear my project views. But I persisted and got my first fieldwork project in the sewerage department. I wanted to do technical work, and not a desk job of making reports,” exclaimed Achrekar.
However, things were not any better on the field either. Achrekar recalled how the men in the team would often stare at her as if they were wondering why she was there at all! “Those days, the BMC hardly welcomed women engineers. They were far more present in administrative services than in engineering services,” Achrekar said.
In the early 2000s, Achrekar had a woman colleague running for a prime engineering position at the BMC. Unfortunately, she was not selected, which discouraged that woman to such an extent that she took voluntary retirement.
Watching her quit, similar thoughts crossed Achrekar’s mind as well. Instead of quitting, she decided to share experiences of gender-based microaggressions at the workplace with her female peers in both government and private sector organisations. This helped her feel a sense of solidarity, which boosted her resolve to persist and thrive.
Archana had been the chief engineer of BMC’s city engineer department
Achrekar celebrates Independence Day 2022, proud as she has created a legacy of inclusive municipal corporations.
Over the years, Achrekar has managed several BMC projects, the most significant being the AK Vaidya Olympic-sized swimming pool at Chembur and Ramdev Peer Mandir Marg at Kurla. She also built the staff quarters for solid waste management labourers at Kandivali. She was part of the planning team for the redevelopment of Crawford Market and overlooked the concretisation of parts of arterial roads such as LBS Marg, VN Purav Marg and Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Marg.
No longer a man's world
Twelve years after joining the BMC, Achrekar got her first promotion in 1996. There were no women civil engineers with her level of experience. Men around her were not used to having female bosses. Even her male juniors found it challenging to take instructions from her!
When promoted as Deputy Chief Engineer in 2012, she got her own cabin with an attached washroom. “It was a newly constructed office. However, the washroom had a urinal suitable only for men! It was quite clear that the office was built with the perception that only men would take up that position,” Achrekar said.
Not just the office infrastructure, even the policies were designed to keep women away from long-lasting careers. Achrekar recalled that when she gave birth to her sons, only a three-month pregnancy leave was allowed at the BMC. No childcare leave or childcare centres for working women were present. As a result, she relied on her mother-in-law to raise her children.
A study by Sukhatme and Dr Bharati Parikh at IIT Bombay has observed a positive trend of increased female enrolment in engineering colleges in the 1990s, though with a decreased rate of employment. Women engineers in the workforce went from 69% in the 1980s to 55% in the 1990s.
Achrekar, however, noted that women’s participation in the workforce increased in the mid-2000s.
According to the Engineering Workforce Commission, in 2010, women received 19.7% of all civil engineering degrees awarded, as against the 18.2% in all engineering streams. Moreover, as per a report on women workers in India by the Neville Wadia Institute of Management Studies and Research, the increase in work opportunities in the early years of the new millennium has been to the tune of 9.3 million jobs per annum (from 1999-2000 to 2004-05). Of the total 46 million jobs created during this period, nearly 15 million went to women.
‘A change in mindset came about when the BMC promoted some women in mechanical and electrical engineering to mid-level posts and also started recruiting more women. Today, I see many women civil engineers, working shoulder to shoulder with men. In fact, women engineers have shown how intelligent, dedicated and dependable they are,” said Achrekar.
A Women’s Day celebration at Archana Achrekar’s office.
Ridhi Gurav (centre), one of Achrekar’s mentees, stands tall with her leader.
In mentor’s role
Achrekar’s journey and passion have inspired many women to enter the field. One of her mentees, Ridhi Gurav (32), a Sub-engineer (Civil) at the BMC, said Achrekar was a supportive superior who helped evoke a strong sense of self-actualisation.
Abhay Sabnis, Deputy Chief Engineer at the BMC, worked with Achrekar for two tenures, when she was a chief engineer and when she became the director. “She has been a kind and generous boss, who likes to play on people’s strengths. She never let her team members face brickbats,” Sabnis told 101Reporters.
“She has certainly left a positive mark as a director who could make everyone feel at ease. Her achievement has opened the gates for women engineers. Today, they prefer to take up fieldwork more. This has only been made possible because of the consistent efforts of engineers like Achrekar, who never shied away from field projects.”
“Her peers saw history being created with her appointment, and now we see more women being promoted to leadership positions in the civic body,” Sabnis added.
Yes ..I got an opportunity to work with Achrekar Madam as Executive Engineer (Personal) when madam was Director (Engineering Services & Projects)..She was very generous with all the staff and always caring about staff..
Myself and Archana are classmates at V J T I Matunga between 1980 to 1983.She was very cool and unbiased always.Her achievement makes us proud.
Great ???????????? ur truely inspiration to all of us madam. And really feel happy and proud for someone take intiative to know journey of ur work. Actually i always personally miss u ur words, effort for me and all engineers ????
very nicely described the journey of BMC with various experiences..
Bravo madam..proud of You.
take care…
शुभम् भवतु।
Very well executed and Mrs Archana acherekar is an inspiration for the new generation and truly phenomenal
It is very difficult to put into words the feelings I have about you madam. The fact that I got the opportunity to work with you is my luck and I don’t have to miss my mother because you were with me while working in Mumbai. I prays to goddess tulja bhavani that you may always be happy and long-lived
I am Archana’s classmate from VJTI, am very proud of her and her accomplishments so far. I admire her courage to fight for this injustice towards women engineers and so proud she finally won the battle. God bless. Lots of love hugs and good wishes for a happy and prosperous life ahead.
Very nicely written ,Madam dedication for work is appreciated and very cooperative nature .Thanks to share lovely experience from which things will change in future
Very nice
Feeling proud to be my boss.
Madam Director
Good Morning .
Wish You Happy Engineers Day.
I again thanks for promoting us so quickly.This was happened due to you only.
Have a nice day .
????????????????So nice. You deserve this & that’s why we proud of you madam. ????????
Super Proud to have a friend like Archana Achrekar she is just outstanding.
Very nice????It’s one step towards women empowerment ????????????????
Woman empowerment
I truly liked this article
Thank you for the great write up! Please continue with your invaluable work of informing folks about these incredibly talented women in STEM.
Archana mam’s journey and courage is very inspiring. Such a treasure of talent on Engineering and softer skills. You have made India proud!
I have been privileged to get trained by Archana madam. Her passion and zeal is extremely infectious. Her training sessions are enthralling and enriching.
Very inspiring. Archana was 1 year junior to me in VJTI. A very studious girl who was not afraid to approach the seniors with her difficulties. She has shown her mettle by breaking the male bastion. Hats off to her. Wishing her the very best.
I am classmate of Archana, from VJTI , 1979-1983. She was very gentle and cool. We feel proud that our batchmate has reached the highest level at BMC, 132 years , and first women to achieve. Great all the best in future .
We are proud of you my elder sister… Really u deserve this.. Very nice article.
Proud of you… Acharekar Madam……you are inspiration to all engineers working in BMC especially women engineers..It was my immense pleasure to work under you….
Thank you for your guidance ????????????
Very proud of you madam….you are inspiration to all engineers working in BMC especially women engineers…..it was my immense pleasure to work under you…
Thank you for your guidance and blessings….
Very nicely written….
Truly Glorious & historical performance and well narrated. Thank you.
Congratulations to Archana Madam.
Salute to her stride and patience to reach to the top most in the organisation like BMC.
Equally well described, Thank you.
Madam was my boss in road department of MCGM, I Was new to the department and madam guided and supported me in every project. I am so much thankful for it. It was my immense pleasure to work under Madam. She is true inspiration for every Engineer working in MCGM. Very Proud of her achievements.
We the women of Mumbai are proud of your achievements. You are the only woman chosen as a director of the municipal corporation of Mumbai and are a Role model for women to face challenges, achieve their goals and to be successful in the field of their choice.
Congratulations Archana Aunty……..Very Inspirational Aunty……We are very Proud of you and your extraordinary contribution given to BMC…… ✨✨✨✌????✌????✌????????????????????????????
For Archana, nothing is impossible. Just reach the skies, that all she knows.
Madam was very honest about her work. And they will take very important decisions in BMC. So that BMC benefited a lot and also they were taking care of their colleagues and juniors. Best wishes to Madam for her future life.
Madam was very honest about her work. And they will take very important decisions in BMC. So that BMC benefited a lot and also they were taking care of their colleagues and juniors. Best wishes to Madam for her future life
A role model for all of us to follow. A true inspiration!
very inspirational