Mom Of Two Breaks Stereotype To Grow to be First Feminine E-Rickshaw Driver In Chenab Valley

BHADERWAH, Dec 6:  The world turned the wrong way up for 39-year-old Meenakshi Devi, a mom of two, virtually a yr in the past after her husband was identified with renal failure and placed on weekly dialysis, forcing the household to wrap up their enterprise and promote their automobile to clear the debt.

  However as an alternative of being overwhelmed by penury, she determined to tread the exhausting street of driving an e-rickshaw regardless of being discouraged by her relations, neighbours and in addition the auto-rickshaw affiliation. Her husband too was initially apprehensive about her taking on driving an e-rickshaw.

Regardless of all odds, she turned the primary feminine e-rickshaw driver within the Chenab Valley and within the course of an inspiration for the village girls of the area aspiring to make a dwelling for themselves and their households.

“I bear in mind the day 4 months in the past after I first entered the auto stand at Seri Bazar in Bhaderwah with my e-rickshaw. Not solely the passersby, however my male counterparts additionally checked out me as if I used to be an alien amongst them,” Devi mentioned.

Some rickshaw drivers even instructed she return dwelling as they didn’t wish to their prospects threat their lives.

“Unfazed by the negativity, I used to be steadfast in my resolve and slowly gained confidence. I now earn Rs 1500 to Rs 2000 per day,” Devi mentioned. “At present one can hardly discover me on the auto stand as I’m busy ferrying my loyal prospects, particularly women, all through the day.”

She asserted that ladies desire to journey together with her quite than male drivers.

A yr in the past she was main a contented life together with her husband and two youngsters in Bhaderwah city of Doda district when her husband was identified with extreme renal failure.

“Very quickly we landed up in piles of debt attributable to escalating medical payments,” she mentioned. As money owed saved mounting and all their financial savings bought exhausted, the household bought their automobile and wrapped their enterprise to clear their debt.

Devi mentioned she explored many choices to earn a dwelling until she discovered that e-rickshaws have been out there for buy at subsidised charges. Earlier than lengthy, the couple purchased a three-wheeler on EMI and her husband Pammi Sharma it upon himself to show her to drive the automobile.

“I really feel joyful that my exhausting work has helped in paying the medical payments of my husband and fulfilling the necessities of my minor sons, certainly one of whom is lately enrolled in a personal faculty,” Devi mentioned with a way of satisfaction.

Her husband mentioned he was not assured that Devi might drive an e-rickshaw within the busy market areas of Bhadarwah city. “However we have been left with no different possibility however to present it a attempt for the sake of survival of the household.”

“At present, I’m not solely happy but in addition pleased with her,” he mentioned.

“As a result of ever-increasing burden of medical payments, I went into melancholy as I saved worrying about the way forward for our youngsters. I have no idea what the long run has in retailer for me as my each kidneys will not be functioning however my spouse made me really feel at peace now,” he mentioned.

President of the auto-rickshaw affiliation Mohisin Ganai mentioned Devi is an inspiration for different girls who aspire to make a dwelling for themselves and their households. “We salute her braveness and help her absolutely.”

“At first, we didn’t approve of the concept of a girl becoming a member of the ranks of 236 males who drive auto-rickshaws within the city. We have been apprehensive about her driving expertise. However inside no time, she proved her mettle and right now she is the busiest auto driver within the city,” he mentioned. (AGENCIES)