In Telangana,a bold step for women: the Stree Ride initiative. Unveiled Saturday at State Police HQ in Hyderabad, it empowers women as drivers and riders in transportation. Police chief C.V. Anand rolled out 50 electric bikes, four electric autos,and a cab,all to be run by women.
Sarla,once a housewife from Neredmet, now earns over ₹40,000 monthly as a delivery rider. Five years back,a Facebook ad caught her eye — an invite to learn riding and work in mobility. She hesitated. But now, she supports her family,beams with pride. “I feel very proud of myself. I can financially support my family and my children,” she said.
Stree Ride's first phase trained 55 women, linking them with mobility service jobs in passenger transport and logistics. Ameena, an auto driver for five years,found independence through the job . “The job gave me financial freedom and the freedom to live life on my own terms,” she shared,though she faces harassment from male passengers . Hopes it makes transport safer for women.
Meanwhile,Aseem Khatun,trained with Moving Women (MOWO), calls her auto-driving stint life-changing. She earns about ₹1,500 daily,now supports family comfortably . “I was not educated either. But the team stood by women like us and helped us stand on our own feet,” she said,earning family respect along the way.
For Satya, driving cab proves lucrative. “I can earn ₹3,500 a day by working between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.,” she noted. The initiative isn't just about jobs; it tackles safety concerns women commuters face. Charu Sinha, DGP of Telangana Women Safety Wing, stressed need for women drivers — safety complaints in public transport are frequent.
Transport Commissioner K. Ilambarithi spoke of women in driving roles as a social shift. Their presence boosts safety in public spaces. Officials urge more women to join. Reach out to Sita Peddareddi at Women Safety Wing or Jai Bharathi from MOWO for details.
Looking ahead,Sinha plans second training batch for September, if enough enroll. Stree Ride is reshaping women's roles in workforce,aiming to make transport safer across Telangana…
