Driving Volvo first woman HRTC driver’s dream

Bhanu P Lohumi

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Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 4

A woman driving a commercial vehicle in the perilous hill terrain in Himachal sounds a bit awkward but Seema Thakur (29) has demolished all stereotypes to emerge as the first woman cab driver of the Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation (HRTC).

With vivid memories of trying her hands on the parked bus, sitting on her father lap, Seema says that she always wanted to do something different and driving was her first choice.

Seema is striving hard to persuade her seniors to allow her to drive heavy vehicles (42 or 52 seater buses). “I have qualified the training test on 52-seater bus and driven buses till Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur for organising eye camps while I was working for sanatorium”.

“I am keen to learn and move forward and have plans to go for Volvo training,” says Seema, who is also unhappy for not being permitted to work during night shift like her male counterpart.

“When I have passed the same driving test as others, why same rules should not be applied to me for working in night shifts,” she questions, adding that she well understood that there are security issues but where is the problem when she is willing to give an undertaking that she will take care of herself.

Hailing from Arki in Solan, Seema is inspired by her father who also worked in the HRTC and even after completing her postgraduation, she was inclined towards driving.

Going by the dictum “Positivity begets positivity”, Seema says that if you are good to others, they will also reciprocate in the same way. “There has not been a single incident of misbehaviour, people do pass comment, but then the best thing is to just ignore,” she adds.

Seema strongly feels that improving qualifications and skills of drivers will not only improve their confidence but also help them learn the mechanical and technological aspects as newer technologies are coming everywhere and automobile is no exception.

Adequate knowledge, skills and training will help drivers to grasp the new technology easily and adopt safety as thumb rule of driving, she asserts.