Young women cab drivers on Delhi roads: Safety a challenge, but there is more too

On Indian roads, where women's safety remains a burning concern, few women dare to take driving as a profession. Of course, women-run pink cabs by branded hail-a-taxi services intend to change the lop-sided scenario, but most of their drivers are still middle-aged women.

The number of young women drivers is still few and far between as fear of safety, family disapproval, peer pressure by male colleagues, and non-acceptance from customers make the going difficult for them from the start.

Aanchal Chauhan has been working as a driver for six years. The 26-year-old says she had picked up driving as a hobby and her family owned a car. "But my family was baffled when I told them that I wanted to drive a cab. I got my driving licence and then found myself a job as a driver," said Chauhan.

However, instead of appreciating their daughter`s passion, Chauhan`s family would ridicule her for her choice of profession. "Earlier when I used to return home after completing my shift, my mother and brother used to taunt me saying `see here comes the driver`. They would also hide my profession from our friends and relatives," she told IANSlife.

Unruffled, Chauhan continued and used her earnings to do a course in make-up. The youngster, who has been working as a driver with Uber for the past two years now, says she is now saving money to open her own make-up academy some day. She desires to be looked upon as a strong and financially independent young woman.

Rinky Singh, another young women driver with Uber, is pursuing graduation in Political Science and History from IGNOU, and faced a similar ordeal. "As the only child of a Rajput family in which family honour is held high, my parents wanted me to stay at home and focus on my studies. But I always wanted to do something different. So I got myself trained, got a driving licence and started working as a driver without telling my family about it," said Singh.

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According to the two girls, clients also tend to discourage women cab drivers citing security concerns. "We the people make a profession good or bad. I`ve taken up driving professionally not to make a statement but it will help if it can change existing notions," said Chauhan.

Singh says she faced verbal abuse from one of her clients for being a woman. But she turned back and gave a befitting reply.

A resident of Rohini, Chauhan drives for eight-10 hours a day on week days and manages to earn Rs 10,000-12,000 a week. "Driving is a job that pays according to the work you do, unlike other jobs. It makes me really proud to say that I`m an independent individual. I don`t have to depend on anybody," she said.

But why did she choose to be a cab driver? "No other job can match the freedom and convenience that driving a cab gives," she added.