Woman auto driver drives change

LUDHIANA: It is not usual to see a woman auto driver in a city like Ludhiana. But for Ameeta Verma of Haibowal, being an auto driver is routine life. Driven both by circumstances and the a resilient spirit, she makes sure she competes with her male counterparts on an equal footing, ferrying passengers even late at night. Not surprisingly, she is the only woman auto-rickshaw in the city.
Ameeta, 27, daughter of factory worker Vijay Kumar Verma and homemaker Indra Devi, said, "I got married last year but somehow it didn't last long. After I returned to my parents place, I did not want to be a burden on them. Therefore, I decided to work somewhere. As I have studied up to Class X, I tried to get a job in an office. But eventually, I became an auto-rickshaw driver. My parents supported my decision and I got an auto-rickshaw on rent", said Ameeta.
Ameeta's day starts at 7am and ends at around 10pm. She earns around Rs 800 to Rs 900 a day. She says she mostly caters to women and young girls who call her asking to be picked up. "I get calls from Haibowal, Hambran road, Chandigarh road, Jalandhar Bypass, Civil Lines and other areas. I have developed personal relations with my passengers", said Ameeta.
On being asked if she feels scared to ply her auto at night, she said, "I am not afraid of anyone and have enough guts to fight anyone who tries to abuse me. I think women should be fearless and fight back when they are abused".
In her way, Ameeta knows that she symbolizes the future, one where women would be treated truly as equals.