Ruksana, Pinky drive e-rickshaws to support kin

Ravneet Singh

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Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 9

Ruksana, a 59-year-old woman, has been driving an e-rickshaw to support herself since 2017. Ruksana and Pinky are two women who drive e-rickshaws in the city to support themselves and their families. They also face lack of cooperation from other auto-rickshaw drivers.

Ruksana’s husband breathed his last when their four children, two daughters and two sons, were young. “Now my children are married and are engrossed in their own families. Hence, I have to work for myself”, she said adding, “I drive an e-rickshaw to support myself and earn about Rs 400-500 daily. Earlier, I used to do a ready made garment business, and constructed a house myself. Later, I started driving an e-rickshaw.”

Meanwhile, Pinky claims to be the first woman to drive an e-rickshaw in Patiala.

“My husband used to drive a cycle rickshaw. Later, we both started driving e-rickshaws together. I also taught Ruksana to drive the vehicle,” she said.

Now, she works to support her children’s education. “I have studied till Class V, which is akin to being uneducated. Hence, I want my children to study. My son and three daughters study in a private school. My 16-year old eldest son is studying in Class X,” she said.

She said they were happy to work for their families.

“It makes the family financially stronger,” says Pinky.

“We face lack of cooperation from auto-drivers as they do not let us ferry commuters from outside Rajindra Hospital and the Mall. They should cooperate with us. In fact, we want the administration and the police to help in making more women self-reliant and not being shy of joining any profession.”