Hyderabad: First women cab service rollout in city on Mar 8

It would be rolled out by Minister for Women & Child Welfare Satyavati Rathod. The service is the brainchild of YoDee (Yosha Deedithi Foundation) supported by the Department of Women Development & Child Welfare

Hyderabad: Hyderabad's first women cab service catering only for women in the IT corridor would be rolled out on March 8 by Minister for Women & Child Welfare Satyavati Rathod. To begin with, four Celerio CNG cars will be rolled out.

The service is the brainchild of YoDee (Yosha Deedithi Foundation) supported by the Department of Women Development & Child Welfare. TSRTC, Transport Department, Police, Sultan-Ul-Uloom Education Society, Radission Blu, We Connect, Area 9 Ladies Circle of Round Table India and others lent their support.DGP Mahender Reddy, Principal Secretary (Transport) Sunil Sharma, Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner, Swati Lakra, IG & Head of SHE Teams, and D Divya, Commissioner (Women & Child Welfare), will attend the launch function.

The vehicles are financed and each vehicle costs Rs 5.25 lakh. The Women & Child Welfare Department subsidises to the extent of 35% and the government even provides 10% margin money required. On the whole, the beneficiaries get a subsidy of Rs 2.25 lakh. Only women can use this cab service.

Sandeep Joshi, General Manager, Radisson Blu Plaza, said, they are proud to be associated with the launch of Women on Wheels. The Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, offer part-time work options for new mothers and are constantly on a lookout to hire more women employees. They also have women HODs as they believe in gender parity and offer equal work opportunities.

As part of launch, an all Women's Car Rally and Treasure Hunt will be held on March 8 in the morning and will be flagged off at Sultan-Ul-Uloom Education Society at Banjara Hills, which will conclude at Radisson Blu.

How to book a cab?

One can book WoW cabs through EasyCommute mobile application. Easy Commute is an intra-city mobile-based AC Bus Shuttle Service to make daily commute easy for working professionals, said Ankit representative from EasyCommute. To begin with, the service will be initially available during the day and subsequently it will be extended for more hours.

Meet 'women on wheels'

Four women drivers – D Sharada, V Dhanalakshmi, M Soujanya and T Sharada - were selected out of 36 aspirants, who were trained rigorously for several months. All the four are in the age group of 28 to 40 years and are married.

They were trained in confidence building, road etiquette, self-defence, trained in a concept called Atithi Devo bhava (the guest is god), first aid, minor repairs, basic English and communication skills, topography of the city and Google map reading.

"I am fortunate to be a part of this initiative. It will help me and my family immensely. I cannot afford to purchase the car but with the help of government subsidy I could," said T Sharada.

"I was afraid to do anything in life but women of Yodee Foundation gave me strength to drive and do something on my own. I could not even ride a two-wheeler. I learnt it perfectly after I decided to choose cab driving as a profession to earn money. Though family could not accept at the beginning, they later gave in and supported me as earning is very essential to my family at this moment," said V Dhanlakshmi.

Women aspiring to become a part of WoW can approach YoDee on 7702223405. The minimum requirement is a pass in Grade VII and an Aadhaar card.