A few female chauffeurs chat with P Sharmaon opting for an unconventional profession
They can steer smoothly through the city’s maddening traffic, quickly make a vehicle fly in case of an emergency and are confident about driving alone at night.
The girls from Azad Foundation are gaining perfection in driving and are being groomed at Blossom Kochhar College of Creative Arts and Design. After a struggling phase in their lives, the girls are now making a new beginning.
Poonam, 19 of Tughlakabad, says lack of formal education made it tough for her to get a good job. “I wanted to work and support my family. After my father’s demise it became difficult for me to survive as my mother doesn’t keep well. I had to work and perform all the household chores. I didn’t want to become a maid like my mother.”
Anjana from Kalkaji is trained to be employed at Sakha, an NGO that provides cabs and chauffeur services to women. “No matter whatever time it is, women can travel without hesitation. We all are thoroughly guided before being employed. We have been given a training in self defence, first-aid classes, communication skills and we are aware of our legal rights.” She filed a domestic violence case against her husband. “I was motivated by my teachers to take a stand for my self. I will fight for the custody of my children once I get employed.”
Suneeta too faced a lot of resistance initially. “It’s a problem of perception. Women were never seen as commercial drivers. But now the time is changing. Since last few months, we are trained in English speaking, map reading, traffic rules. Everybody is individually given 45 minutes to drive to a particular route.”
The confidence that comes with the job has completely changed 36-year-old Shanno. “I lost my husband seven years back and my mother-in-law was against my becoming a driver. I didn’t listen to her. I always worried about my teenage daughters, but now I know they can handle themselves,” she says.
These female chauffeurs says that men are often shocked to see them driving on streets. “They say we’ve taken their jobs. But I want to show them that women can do whatever they set their minds to,” says laxmi, who is pursuing her graduation.