New Delhi, Dec. 28: For the first time since women entered the workforce in large numbers, a woman has been elected the chief of CPM labour wing Citu.

Women associated with mass organisations see K. Hemalata's election as the culmination of their efforts of years to break the glass ceiling in their political parties.

Hemalata, however, views her election as part of a process started by Citu founding president B.T. Ranadive in 1979 with the setting up of the All India Coordination Committee of Working Women to organise women and train them for leadership roles.

"Back then, we didn't have even a single woman in the general council. Today, 71 of the 460 members of the general council are women. Eight of our 35 office-bearers are women. We don't think this is enough, but we have been working on this for a while now," Hemalata said.

She was elected Citu president in Puri late last month. Hemalata is the only woman to hold office in a trade union since Maniben Kara headed the Hind Mazdoor Sabha in the 1950s.

Trade union leaders insist that such outfits are essentially male-dominated space, mirroring societal hierarchies.

Citu members pointed out that despite Ranadive's initiative, the struggle had continued. "Though women have become presidents of some state units and hold leadership positions in various states now, 90 per cent of the leadership of the traditional-sector unions are still men," a Citu member said.

Women have been able to command leadership positions among scheme workers - those engaged by the government as workers and helpers at anganwadi centres, the school midday meal plan and the ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) programme.

With these three programmes together accounting for one crore women workers, this has helped swell the number of women in trade unions in general. Women now constitute 33 per cent of the union's 60 lakh members.

Hemalata's election was welcomed by the general secretary of the CPI-linked NFIW, Annie Raja, who said such a position for women in a trade union was long overdue.

"Around 96 per cent of the women workforce is in the unorganised sector and are subject to all forms of exploitation. This is a crucial step taken by Citu. Other trade unions should take note of this," Annie said.