The district will join a Statewide initiative for women-friendly travel facilities when two Kudumbasree members in Pala launch Kudumbasree Travels, a taxi service exclusively of women, for women, by women. The taxi service, already operational in Thiruvnanathapuram and Kochi, will be launched in the district on Saturday, as part of the district-level anniversary celebration of Kudumbasree.
Kudumbasree District Mission coordinator C. Shobha Lakshmi said five persons had been shortlisted as taxi drivers in the district. Two others would join the initiative in Kottayam town and one at Changanassery soon. The mission hoped to expand Kudumbasree Travels all over the district, especially the municipal areas, in a phased manner, she added.
Two drivers, Leelamma and Usha, did not have prior experience as drivers; neither did they come from families of drivers. “Their husbands are daily wage earners,” Ms. Shobha Lakshmi said.
Training in soft skills
In addition to instruction in driving, the two women were given 30 hours of training in soft skill development, which included financial management. Their training was over nine months back and they were waiting for the procedural formalities
She said the two would drive Maruthi Swift Dezire. The loans were on their person, but the district mission would provide the collateral guarantee. “In the initial phase, we plan to link the taxi service with some institutions,” said Ms. Shobha Lakshmi. This would provide them with a regular income and help them repay loan on time. An additional benefit would be that they would not be called to drive at odd times.
These vehicles would be linked to the district call centre using GPS and the booking would be through the call centre.
