Women on wheels: Assured and upbeat

Mumbai: Anita Kardak, who holds a double Masters and had given up her career to take care of her two boys at the age of 28, is now getting back to the workforce as an autorickshaw driver almost two decades later. Ms Kardak is one of the 115 women autorickshaw drivers who will be seen zipping through the streets of Mumbai on the auspicious day of Gudi Padwa on Wednesday.

Ms Kardak, who works at an anganwadi where she has been earning Rs 5,000 a month, feels she can earn a decent living for a family that is going through a tough phase financially. She said, “I left my job at the age of 28 when I had my second son. At that time I was working as a lecturer and before that, as a clerk.” She further added, “I have a Masters in Hindi literature and sociology from SNDT University and I had no choice but to leave my job.”

Hemangi Bendre, on the other hand, is an example of a young and bright India that does not want to be chained down working for someone else. Twenty-five-year-old Ms Bendre, also a resident of Vikhroli, has completed her Masters in commerce and is working in a small company that verifies documents of people who want to invest in demat. She said, “I am earning Rs 18, 000 currently and work 12 hours a day so if I work the same hours I will be working Rs 24,000 at least and also I will decide my work hours instead of someone else.”

Ms Bendre, who has also taken a loan to buy the autorickshaw, said she is confident that she will be able to pay the instalments on time. She added, “I feel that if a woman like Kalpana Chawla can drive to the moon then why I can’t drive an autorickshaw.”

The transport commissioner’s office had brought out a scheme early this year in which 5 per cent of auto permits would be reserved for women.