'She Autos' to roll out in Vizag soon

VISAKHAPATNAM: In a few weeks time, She Autos are going to roll out in Vizag as part of the Smart City Initiative. The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation is all set to launch the She Auto scheme in the Port City enabling women to drive auto-rickshaws for public purpose. A similar scheme has been already rolled out on a pilot basis in Vijayawada by chief minister Chandrababu Naidu.
The Urban Community Development (UCD) wing of GVMC has been entrusted with the task of identifying eligible women to run the autos on the city roads. Officials including motor vehicle inspectors of Road Transport Authority (RTA) department are to give them vigorous training in the art of driving.
Confirming this, GVMC commissioner Pravin Kumar said that the corporation is still accepting applications from the interested women members. "We are making all possible measures to empower the women fraternity in the city by displaying self-employment opportunities through the Smart Auto," Pravin Kumar said.
According to V Venugopala Rao, mission co-ordinator of GVMC for the Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA), a total of 44 women have applied for the She Auto scheme as on December 29, but out of them, only 27 applicants were identified as eligible based on their qualifications and submission of the proof of documents required for the scheme. Of the 27 applications, three applicants were higher qualified too - such as D Srilakshmi Priyanka, a B.Com graduate from RK Nagar, B Jyothi Kumari, a BA graduate from Thatichetlapalem and B Kanaka Mahalakshmi, a BA graduate from Akkayyapalem. Apart from these, nearly 10 candidates were Intermediate pass and the qualified in Class X, Rao added.
"We will start the classes once we received required number of applications, between 40 and 45 number - for the first batch of the two-month long training programme including driving practice. We have set a formal deadline of January 5, 2016 to close the accepting of the applications for the first batch. The total targeted candidates are 100," Venugopala Rao told TOI.
The MEPMA has entrusted the task of taking care of the training and bank loan facility to purchase the auto to the candidates to Vijayawada-based People's Welfare Society (PWS). The PWS will be responsible for giving academic and practical training classes to the selected candidates. The candidates will be given a free driving licence from the RTA. The PWS will help the candidates in sanctioning the bank loans to purchase the autos and the beneficiaries' contribution is just 10% of the total cost of the auto they choose. Generally an auto rickshaw costs between Rs 1.8 to 2 lakh.
According to RTA deputy transport commissioner V Venkateswara Rao, She Autos in fact are safe as compared to those driven by men as women in general take more safety measures, do not consume liquor, smoke or even chew gutkas. Moreover, the She Autos would be very helpful and safe for women and children passengers.