Armed with learner’s licence, they are all oozing with confidence and raring to go. When they hit the streets driving auto-rickshaws on the city roads, they will be the first batch of women auto drivers and perhaps writing a new story in Vijayawada’s history.
As part of their auto driving programme being conducted by Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) in association with Garapati Kanumilli Charities, 45 women auto drivers, who were selected for the programme participated in an interactive session on customer relations, behaviour and other aspects.
Thirty-two year old J. Swarna, whose husband is also an auto driver, always wanted to drive an auto-rickshaw and support the family. Given the financial limitations, she could not pursue the dream but soon after VMC announced the free auto driving training programme, she grabbed the opportunity.
“It is a good initiative. It helps in financial independence of many women, besides empowerment,” said J. Swarna, a resident of Chittinagar.
Like her, 44 other unemployed women aged between 20-40 years have also enrolled into the training programme. “It is like self-employment. Government is providing loans for purchasing auto and driving licences also, hence I joined the programme,” said K. Bhagyam from Ravichettu centre.
After undergoing 30 days driving training and 10 days classroom training on road safety rules on Garapati Kanumilli Charities premises at Nulakapeta, these women participated in the one-day interactive session on Thursday.
It was basically about how to behave with customers, how to manage the finances, maintaining road manners and other aspects, said Syed Kaleem, Manager sales training (South), Piaggio Vehicles Private Limited.
They will be taking the permanent driving licence test in a fortnight and before that they will be undergoing three-day night driving training. However, the trainees are apprehensive about the Transport Department issuing new permits to drive auto-rickshaws in the city.
“We wish officials colour the auto in pink for exclusive identity and also issue permits to drive the vehicles early without any hassles. We have been informed that even after getting licences, we need to wait for a year to drive the vehicles,” said K. Bhagyam.
