Telugu lady Saritha will be the first woman to hit Delhi roads as a DTC bus driver.In a move described as a major contribution to women’s empowerment, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has appointed a 30-year-old woman from Telangana as its first female driver.
Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai handed over DTC’s appointment letter to Ms.Saritha.Hailing from Nalgonda in Telangana, Saritha earlier worked as a private chauffeur in south Delhi.Saritha has been currently posted at Sarojini Nagar depot and will be put on day-time duty at a route in the central part of the city.
Sartitha who started as auto driver in Nalgonda moved Hyderabad few years back and applied for a heavy vehicle driver’s license.“It was in 2011 that I first drove a bus — it was more of a minibus — in Hyderabad.It gave me the confidence to earn a livelihood with dignity,” she reveals.
Four years ago, this gutsy lady relocated from Hyderabad to Delhi to drive all-women Sakha cabs run by Azad Foundation.
She was hired by DTC month ago and she now became the first female driver.Delhi Transport Corporation has about 243 female conductors, but no woman driver
” As the youngest among five sisters, I took it as a challenge to financially support my family.
I will ensure that all the female passengers of my bus have a safe journey.I will pick them from stands and drop them there.I will not jump red signals.I will stand by my female passengers,” said Saritha
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