“The auto rickshaw has been my livelihood for the past 21 years. I was among the first batch of women auto rickshaw drivers in Kozhikode city, a programme supported by the Corporation. My husband was an auto rickshaw driver and he was paralysed after an accident. That is when I first thought of learning to drive. I don’t even know to ride a bicycle, but yet I learnt. We were given training in driving the auto rickshaw and it took me about two months to get around it. Getting the vehicle onto the road requires confidence and expertise and that came gradually.
I remember, initially, when we first set out on the road, we aroused much curiosity. But people were also reluctant to get into our vehicles. They were not sure if we had mastered driving it. Gradually, all that changed. But, I must say, the male auto rickshaw drivers who were around then, encouraged and helped us immensely. Initially, women were particularly jittery about getting into our vehicles, but once they saw we were well in control they chose us over male drivers.
I started out to support my family. But this job taught me a lot. Earlier my life was confined to the house and here I was in a job that required me to be familiar with every nook and corner of the city. Mostly, it taught me how to manage my finances. The money may never be enough, but one needs to manage with what one gets. It is important to set aside money for the vehicle’s maintenance first and only then spend on oneself and family. Over the years, women who started out with me have stopped. Now we don’t have more than 10 women auto rickshaw drivers in the city. Most of the women never managed that financial control needed to continue in this job. Health failed the others.
Bad health has restricted my work too to a large extent. I have not been going for the regular day-long ride since last year. I had a surgery recently. So these days, I just ferry children to school and back, that means two trips in the morning and two in the evening. In between, if someone who knows me calls, then I take out the auto rickshaw. Of course, not going for regular runs have considerably reduced my income. But what can I do if health doesn’t permit.
Driving on our roads, I must say, is not easy. The woes multiply during the rains. When I started out, the minimum fare was Rs. 2, but we could fill two litres of petrol for Rs. 30.
Over the years the maintenance cost of vehicles has escalated, so too expenses. I changed my auto rickshaw a year back, but the maintenance cost for this vehicle is much higher. My husband passed away 10 years ago and I live with my daughter in a rented accommodation. Though there are difficulties, never did I regret taking up this job, for, this kept my family afloat.
(As told to P. ANIMA)
A weekly column on the men and women who make Kozhikode what it is.
