Look who’s driving: city to get all-women taxi service

In separate initiatives, All India Women’s Conference (AIWC) and OAIS, a private company, have trained 20 woman cab drivers each.

From April 1, Delhi will have cabs for women, driven by women.

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In separate initiatives, All India Women’s Conference (AIWC) and OAIS, a private company, have trained 20 woman cab drivers each.

OAIS, which runs the all-woman taxi service ForShe in Mumbai, hopes to replicate its success in Delhi.

AIWC’s motive, however, is to help its 20 woman trainees find employment.

“Ten women have completed their training and 10 more are being trained. We are trying to get them placed in multinational and public sector companies, keeping their safety in mind,” said AIWC West Delhi branch president Harinder Kaur.

Promising future
In both ventures, the trainees are excited. “I can finally support myself,” said Gayatri Rajput, a 24-year-old, who was
raised in and still lives at an orphanage on Bhagwandass Road.

Keerti Sharma (20), who is studying for her Class 12 boards, is glad she will be able to fund her education with her new skill. “Working while studying is difficult, but I feel I will manage,” she said.

Urmila (25), who goes only by her first name, feels more confident after the karate course she took as part of the programme.

“All the girls are extremely hard working. It was a pleasure teaching them,” said Shakuntala Khokar, a retired inspector now working as a trainer with OAIS.