IMAGE: ANUP PRAKASH

Amid the chaos and madness of the city's roads, Laxmi Gurung hardly gets any free time. Area-in-charge of one of the busiest traffic hotspots of the city, the Thapathali junction, she also heads an all-female traffic squad of 25 officers.

Originally from Rumjhatar, Laxmi started out as a police officer in 1985. After a few years she was transferred to the traffic department where she was an officer. And in a span of a few years, in 2006, she was already heading the traffic of the Bouddha area.

A typical day for Laxmi is a far cry from the regular 9 to 5 desk job. Managing the traffic condition when a single factor can make all hell break loose in the streets is a feat in itself. Add to that, the mindset of drivers and the carefree attitude of pedestrians, her job becomes all the more challenging. So for Laxmi, accepting the job, which is typically associated with males wasn't all that smooth. She found that people are less respectful towards female officers.

At a time when old stereotypes and clichés are still prevalent in society, Laxmi stands out as a fierce answer to all of them. A single mom competently juggling the roads and her home, Laxmi is always on the move. But with a stern modesty that only a Nepali woman can exude, Laxmi is quick to put down all the greatness given to her. "I'm not doing anything out of the ordinary," she says humbly. Surprising, when one knows she works for 13 hours each day, living in an army-like barrack with only a few visits to home each month. When asked if she would like to spend more time in her home, she replies, "Striking the right balance is the key. I'm there for my family and my home when I need to be."

Laxmi feels that women are lagging behind because they don't realise their own potential. As others, she strongly believes that education is the only tool that can free women from their own confinements. Given the right opportunity at the right time, she feels that a woman can do and achieve much more than she thinks she's capable of.

*Malin Gurung