New Delhi: Women in Delhi are daring to dream big for themselves and their children. Many are re-crafting their destiny by making bold and as yet unusual career choice of a professional driver.
Stories abound of women cab drivers from disadvantaged communities who have braved dissent at home and have become bread earners for their families. By transforming their circumstances they have become an inspiration for other women and are contributing to the positive social change in society.
Gulf News speaks to two cab drivers ahead of the International Women's Day.
Thirty one-year-old Shanti suffered torture at the hands of her husband for many years. Fed up of her drunkard husband's wayward behaviour, she was forced to take up a job when her first child was just over a month old.
Shanti says, "I suffered silently for long. But had to take a stand for the sake of our daughter, as most times my husband remained jobless."
Beginning from 2005, she took up jobs that came her way including working as a receptionist with a private company and later at a call centre.
During the year 2008, Azad Foundation (AF) and Sakha Consulting Wings (SCW) headed by Meenu Vadera and Nayantara Janardhan, respectively, began a social enterprise to provide safe transport solutions for women in urban areas.
The concept - ‘for women, by women' caught the eyes of several women who, due to lack of education, did not have exposure of the world outside their homes.
Meenu and Nayantara had systematically tapped women from the lower strata of society and were themselves surprised to see women coming out of their homes and approaching them to learn driving.
By the time Shanti walked into SCWs office in 2009, nothing had changed for her on the home front, except that now she had three daughters to look after.
"Resolving to take matters in my hands for good, I decided to break the stereotypes and train myself to become a professional driver, something that until then was unheard of," she informs.
After training for eight months, she worked for a year as private chauffeur with a businesswoman residing in south Delhi's Vasant Vihar locality. Drawing a salary of Rs.5,500 per month, Shanti sent her children to school, a move that probably drew the ire of her husband more. He left the house the same year.
Thereafter, Shanti graduated to becoming a commercial vehicle driver and driving Maruti's Alto, she is now able to earn around Rs.8000 to Rs.9000 monthly.
Exuding power, the mother of three daughters aged, 12, 9 and 6, Shanti is immune to the looks of the passers-by and drivers alike as she navigates her way during rush-hour traffic. She has changed her life - all on her own.
Enthused by such stories, AF is putting more women in charge of technology behind the wheel of a car. And SCW has become Delhi's first service that provides women drivers as chauffeurs. It has given long-term remunerative employment to over 50 women till now. The training involves driving a variety of cars - from Maruti 800 to Honda City.
The drivers, in their 20s and 30s, are provided lessons on communication, reading road maps, road safety, self-defence, motor mechanics, health and hygiene and women's rights. Along with, they are given tips on dealing with road rage, a common phenomenon on capital roads.
Poonam, a housewife, residing in Defence Colony regularly dials for Sakha cabs. She says, "I feel especially secure with women drivers, as they not only avoid getting into unnecessary brawls, but are also very caring and concerned about passenger convenience.
"Also, because they are given self-defence training by the Delhi Police, my husband feels I am safe when traveling with them."
The ambassadors of change are slowly gaining the admiration of both men and women alike. Many of them speak English. With smart uniforms and attitude that demonstrates confidence, they have begun earning respect from their male counterparts.
Lakshmi takes the chaos in stride with a smile and steady nerves as she sits behind the wheel of Volkswagen's Polo.
Driving for the past one year, the 30-year-old woman who had never taken up a job before, opted to drive a vehicle on Delhi roads.
Laskhmi exults, "Wanting to do something different, I found driving a car very exciting. I am happy to be living a dignified life and feel proud adding to the family income. I had studied up to Class 9, but am now educating myself further."
She lives with her husband, a small-time businessman, two daughters, mother and two sisters. Lakshmi is seeing to it that her daughters get good education and stand on their feet.
The project has not only transformed the lives of the women drivers, but also of people around them. It's a reminder of the many social changes that have forced a re-consideration of the role of women in society.
