Don’t be surprised if you come across colourful cars zooming through the Bandra-Worli Sea Link this Sunday. As a part of the Women’s Rally to the Valley, all these cars will carry messages about women safety and hygiene — and will all be driven by women.
Organised by the Western India Automobile Association (WIAA), the 10th edition of the rally will be flagged off from The National Sports Club of India (NSCI), Worli on Sunday, March 25 and will take an all-women driver contingent up to the hill city Lavasa near Pune.
Recalling the first year of the rally, Nitin Dossa, executive chairman WIAA, who is also spearheading the rally, says, “In our first edition, we had only 50 women participants. But as the word spread, over the years there has been no cap on the participation.”
To be a part of the rally, all a woman needs is a driving licence and a car. Apart from the driver, a navigator and two co-passengers are allowed in a car. With only 175 entries so far, the organisers are expecting around 800 women drivers from different walks of life to participate.
A team of women drivers with an all pink car
“The rally will run on Time/Distance/Speed (TSD) format in compliance with the international sporting code. On the starting point each car will be given a ‘tulip chart’ to reach the end point,” says Nitin. Before any rally organisers hold classes for new drivers and educate them on how to calculate the time and run for the rally.
The cars will proceed through the city’s major landmarks namely Peddar Road, Churchgate, Marine Drive, Chowpatty, and Worli Sea Face before concluding at Lavasa.
“The chart has only arrows and directions and will be disclosed to them on the day of the rally,” smiles Nitin, adding, “They have to follow the chart and the speed limit. And if one reaches before time or beyond it, they will be served with a penalty. No one is allowed to take a different route.”
Talking about ensuring safety on the route, Nitin says they have time controllers placed at proper intervals to lookout. “Even the number of time controllers isn’t disclosed. They are there to check if all cars have passed the route and are within the prescribed speed limit. This is not a race,” says Nitin.
For rally drivers, Janvi Mehta and Kiren Motwani of PadWomen — who are participating for the seventh year — there is no greater joy than to be with fellow comrades. “We look forward to March for this rally. It is amazing to be among so many women, aiming for an end together. And then working on a theme every year, decorating our car — we look forward to all this,” says an elated Janvi.
Thrilled with this year’s theme, their car is inspired by the movie Pad Man. “After watching Pad Man, we knew what our theme would be — menstrual hygiene,” says Kiren. “In between our breaks and as and when we get time, we will be distributing 500 packets of sanitary pads in the rural areas. We will also be talking about women hygiene and measures to participants so that they can go back and share it with their domestic help.” Janvi’s mother Sheila Sampat and a friend Rakhi Bhimsaria will join in the PadWomen team.
Expressing their joy of participating year after year, the PadWomen team is looking forward to a win this year. “We are getting better at cracking the whole concept and how it is to be done. We are thorough this year and are hoping to make it in first three positions. However, all said and done the aim of PadWomen is to spread the message we are carrying with us,” adds Kiren.
And as these drivers reach Lavasa, they will be welcomed to a carnival-themed party. “There will be music, food and we have beauticians and health experts coming,” smiles Nitin.
The winner of the rally will receive a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, first runner-up Rs 75,000 and the second runner-up Rs 50,000.
Starting next year, the organisers are planning to take the rally to Delhi, Hyderabad, Calcutta, and Bangalore. “Safety of drivers is the prime factor. While we promote safe driving, we also want to empower women across the nation. That is the aim with which we are moving forward,” concludes Nitin.
