Rupa, 55, says she will never forget the day she started working as a taxi driver in an all-women taxi company because she has been happy ever since. She managed to become financially independent and to leave her husband, who had abused her for years. Before, she could not have afforded her daughter’s upkeep by herself, so she didn’t hesitate when she had the chance to be trained by a company in Mumbai that employs women in difficult situations.
With the money she earns driving at night (about 116 € a month), she rents a room in a house she shares with other women, and supports her daughter, who is studying to be a veterinarian. Despite driving night shifts, she says she enjoys her work and that her taxi is like her second child. “Nothing is hard for me now. I feel useful driving my customers to work or wherever they need to go”, she says. “The best part about these women taxi drivers is to see how their lives change, how they become stronger and are able to go to work and bring up their children”, says photographer Serena Sanctis, who did a project on the subject.
The operations executive of the female taxi company says that more and more people prefer women driving a taxi because they are more reliable and careful. He adds that the growing number of young women who have jobs and can afford the service, “prefer to be driven around by a woman. One woman will never abuse another”. There are already four different women taxi services in India.
One of Rupa’s frequent customers says he enjoys traveling with her because she is friendly, knows the city well and is never late despite the traffic jams. In addition, she says it's safer. “I came to live in Mumbai just after gang rape of a student in New Delhi mobilized the whole city. After that, my family asked me not to take just any transport when I was out alone. I feel and am very safe with Rupa at the wheel.”
Source: elpais.com
