Help Women in India Become Professional Drivers

As per the International Labour Organisation’s 2018 report titled Women and Men in the Informal Economy: A Statistical Picture (third edition), around 81% of employed people in India are working in the informal sector. Organisations in India like Azad Foundation have recognised this need and are working actively towards making non-traditional jobs in the informal sector welcoming for women. At a time when India is battling its worst unemployment woes at a 6.1% - highest in 45 years according to reports. India is constantly facing decline in women workforce participation which has come down from 36% to 24% in couple of decades. Azad Foundation is fighting these odds to offer livelihoods with dignity  for resource poor women in these challenging circumstances It is heartening to see women today taking up roles and jobs that society considers fit only for men. They have broken all stereotypes and created their own pathway in fields dominated by men despite gender diversity numbers may not be statistically balanced yet

On the occasion of International Women’s day, Azad Foundation and Its strategic partner, Sakha has celebrated the achievements of women drivers, in Kolkata 40 women drivers felicitated by the Minister of Women and Child Development, Provincial Government of West Bengal. Most of the felicitated women drivers came from extremely challenging circumstances, survivors of domestic violence, extreme poverty, non-supportive families, they have not only surmount such situations but are now “empowered” women professional chauffeurs who can sustain themselves.       

Since its inception in 2015, Azad Foundation’s, Women On Wheels Kolkata, has enrolled 270 women, out of them 165 women have become employable. These empowered women drivers are not only changing their own life, but also making inroads into male dominated transport sector and breaking age-old patriarchal doctrines in Kolkata. In year 2019-20 Azad Foundation plans to enrol 130 more women to the programme and ensure that many of them become empowered chauffeurs and entrepreneurs.

 Launch of Pink Cabs in Kolkata:

Though the political environment in the city of Kolkata, India has been challenging, with constant negotiations and advocacy this year the state government announced and issued special permits for the Pink Cabs for women drivers to be able to purchase a vehicle/ taxi with a subsidy of INR 100000 (USD 1450) from the government under the Welfare scheme “Gatidhara” for women. The Chief Minister of the State of West Bengal, Ms Mamta Banerjee, flagged off the ‘Pink Cabs’ in Feb 2019. Of the 10 women at the launch ceremony, 8 women drivers from Azad Foundation and Sakha were encouraged to apply for the same and 7 have already received the vehicles in their names.

With this Azad Foundation and Sakha have created a new model of business where women these drivers will become entrepreneurs by owning the vehicles. We are determined that these amazing women succeed and many more women can take the entrepreneurial route facilitated by support of Azad Foundation and Sakha’s Women on Wheels.

 Manashi’s journey

The first day Manashi drove a car was one of the most significant days of her life. She felt like a huge step towards improving her life, and she felt confident and empowered.

A widow with 2 young children, she joined Azad because she wanted to earn a livelihood and more importantly, earn it with respect.

Her training at Azad, has helped her increased her self-confidence and her sense of fear has been crushed. She sees Azad as an institution that helps create a sense of self-reliance for women and where women learn to establish themselves independently and succeed.

Today she is proud to stand on her feet driving the Pink Cab and wants to bring up her sons in a healthy environment with financial independence. She would like to teach her family and other people about the benefits of self-reliance and confidence.