Shubhangi and Nasrin are among the first 10 women autorickshaw drivers in the city . Their smiles are a testament to the fact that they are ready to take on a field like public transport, despite its challenges. Thrilled by the prospect, the women are eagerly looking forward to start the autorickshaw service that would preferably be a by women, for women service, they said.
While Shubhangi received her While Shubhangi received her commercial driving licence and autorickshaw badge in 2014, Nasrin was able get both documents about three years earlier, in 2011. “As both of them possess necessary documents, they are technically fit to start the services,“ said an RTO official. As of now, RTO Jitendra Patil has given an expression of permit letter to the women. Now, the drivers are expected to produce an autorickshaw to get the final permit.
“It is a dream come true. The “It is a dream come true. The permit is a milestone for me as it will help support the family income,“ said Shubhangi, whose father has been an autorickshaw driver for the past 30 years. “My father encouraged me to apply for the com mercial driving licence and autorickshaw badge. I feel proud to follow my father’s footsteps,“ she added. Her sense of responsibility towards her family prompted Shubhangi to look for a job but she wasn’t able to get one. “There is a lot of uncertainty in the private sector. I felt that instead of being dependent on someone else, why not opt for self-employment,“ she said.
Initially , Shubhangi aims to ferry children to their schools. “I have to attend college in the morning so I am planning to drive the autoricks haw in the afterooon. Let’s see how it goes,“ she smiles.
Nasrin too is looking forward to driving an autorickshaw but before she takes on the road she intends to polish her skills by practicing daily.“I will drop my children to their schools and then start with the commercial rides. My family is very supportive of me, which has given me the confidence to take up the new venture. In the beginning, I might drive the autorickshaw only in the day time,“ she said.
Meanwhile, the state govern ment is considering alloting a specific colour scheme for autorickshaws driven by women permit holders so as to help commuters identify them. However, Patil said that his office was yet to receive a specific instruction regarding the colour scheme.
The RTO has issued over 2,600 new permits to male autorickshaw drivers. The process is likely to be completed in the next few days. The RTO office in Pimpri Chinchwad also issued permits to about five women drivers on Tuesday .
Source : TOI
