A ride towards independence: Women in Hyderabad’s Old City are taking up e-autos to gain confidence and much more

A divorcee whose both parents have passed away, the woman used to work as a delivery partner for a food aggregator for the last two years before choosing a career shift. “What will people say? Our existence is a daily struggle. Besides better income prospects, driving an autorickshaw gives me more confidence to take on the world,” she says.

G Meena, 41, the person in charge of training these 20 women, says every one of them has a similar story and is hardened by what they have experienced in life. It is Meena’s success story that is an inspiration to many. Three years ago, she was the first to drive an e-autorickshaw in the city in association with ETO Motors. “After an accident, my husband was not able to go to work like before and to take care of my girls, I turned my interest in driving into my vocation. I love driving and clock around 100 km every day between 9 am and 6 pm,” says Meena.

Several of her videos are up on YouTube and other social media platforms inspiring women including her students.

A 21-year-old burqa-clad woman, who joined the team following Meena’s YouTube videos, is confident that women are no less than men. Having worked several odd jobs after completing Class 10, she believes only women can empower other women. “I want to be a role model to other women. I want to be independent because I do not want to plead before anyone for anything,” she says.

Another burqa-clad woman, whose brother is the only earning person in a 14-member family, says she has seen enough problems because of their financial situation and is excited to hit the road and do her bit. “For my educational qualification, I can now drive only an autorickshaw. If possible, I would love to learn to drive a train too,” she adds.

Asaduddin Owaisi, Hyderabad MP and president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Saturday flagged off a rally of 30 e-autorickshaws after ETO Motors handed over the vehicles to 15 men and 15 women at the party’s headquarters in Darussalam.

AIMIM President & Hyderabad MP Barrister @asadowaisi Flagged Off the distribution of 30 FREE Electric Automobiles by ETO Motors with assistance from AIMIM at Party HQ#etomotors #Business #Darussalam pic.twitter.com/UbPBjKi8f3

— AIMIM (@aimim_national) July 8, 2023

The youngest among them is also a burqa-clad Taiyabba Ashwaq Bagwan from Solapur, Maharashtra, whose family moved to Falaknuma two years ago during the Covid-induced lockdown. Bagwan, 19, is also a champion in Karate and swimming. “I was very excited when I saw such an initiative in the news. After completing Class 12, I have not been able to find a job. My father used to drive an autorickshaw before the lockdown and when I told him I wanted to drive an autorickshaw, he was more than happy,” she says.

D Shanti, 28, who graduated from the first batch of 10 women recently, says she has had a wonderful experience driving around the city so far. She lives with her sister’s family and has worked as a housekeeping staff at a hospital earlier. Her husband had left her after coming to know that she delivered a baby girl.

An extremely small and enthusiastic person, she says passengers often ask her about her life story and then wish her well. That encouragement, she says, is satisfying and gives her confidence. “I have a daughter to take care of. My family was apprehensive about my decision to take to driving autorickshaw but Bobby madam gave us the support and strength,” she says.

Shanti was referring to Ajmeera Bobby, who is spearheading the initiative for ETO Motors and Telangana’s first tribal woman to earn a commercial flying license. A leader and role model herself, she believes these women are now ready to break social taboos.

“Through our moto – environment, employment, empowerment – we are not only training these women from impoverished backgrounds to drive an e-autorickshaw but also getting them driving licenses and providing them with the vehicle as well. They can keep the vehicle and drive around town or we connect them with businesses and ensure a regular income,” she explains.

The company’s association with an old city-based NGO Shaheen Women’s Resource and Welfare Association has been a success in giving confidence to women from the locality and is now a model for other community-based NGOs, and educational institutions who see scope in emulating the same. Stating that Shaheen is mulling buying an e-autorickshaw for its training purposes, its founder Jameela Nishat feels more and more women should come out.

ETO Motors offers three different models for trainees to become self-sufficient. They can keep the vehicle for two years by either paying a rent of Rs 500 a day or accepting a monthly salary or a business connection. After two years, the ownership of the vehicle is transferred to the user.

On a single charge that would take around an hour, an e-autorickshaw can achieve a range of 60 to 70 km and up to 120 km. Besides their main hub at Kacheguda, ETO Motors has set up hubs at Amberpet, Moghalpura, Shastripuram, Habsiguda, Miyapur, and Madhapur.

Bobby has set an ambitious vision of flagging off an e-autorickshaw rally from Charminar to Tank Bund to demonstrate the success of these women on the International Day for Women next year.