NGO plans to launch women taxi drivers in city before Commonwealth Games
NGO plans to launch women taxi drivers in city before Commonwealth Games
This may make Delhi safer for women. An NGO plans to launch a group of women cab drivers on Delhi's roads by next year's Commonwealth Games. And not only will these women drive cars, they will change tyres, fix engines and even play the attentive chauffeur at parking lots.
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Fair drive: Women from slums being taught to drive |
Getting lessons in car repair |
The Delhi-based NGO, Azad Foundation, is training a group of underprivileged women as professional taxi drivers. This step, while breaking the taboo in the city that women can't drive taxis, will also offer a dignified livelihood to the young women from the slums.
"During the Commonwealth Games there will be a huge demand for cab drivers. And we are hoping that foreign delegates will not mind being driven around by women as this is a common practice abroad. So, all our drivers are being given lessons in etiquette and spoken English," said Meenu Vadhera, founder of Azad Foundation.
The Kalkaji-based NGO claims the drivers undergo a six-month-long rigorous and comprehensive training programme covering vehicle maintenance, map reading and motor legislation. "The drivers do not only have technical knowledge but are trained in self-defence, sexual and reproductive health and imparted a basic legal understanding as well," said Vadhera.
In a sign of the campaign's success, in the first batch of nine women drivers that passed-out few months back, seven have already been employed.
Interestingly, the NGO is not only training the women but trying to guarantee them jobs as well. "Before the Commonwealth Games, our sister concern Sakha will launch a radio taxi service which will only hire women drivers. We will have more than 30 drivers on road before the Games," Vadhera said.
The NGO is being helped by Maruti, and the Delhi Police is training the women drivers in self-defence.
