“I HAVE NO PROBLEMS DRIVING MEN EITHER”
Her love for driving and adventure made B Jayalakshmi, a former professional tailor, learn to drive and then start plying a taxi. She is very happy with her decision. Attached to Hotel Savera’s private cab service initially intended only for their women guests, Jayalakshmi now also drives male patrons. It all started when the NGO Duchess Helping Hands conceptualised a taxi service for women by women and trained a few drivers. Jayalakshmi was one of the three women who were trained. She joined the hotel as a valet and was then given the opportunity to get into the taxi business herself.
The NGO helped with the down payment for the vehicle and paid the first three EMIs. Since she and her taxi are attaches to the hotel Jayalakshmi gets assured business. And since all the guests she picks up are from the hotel or are hotel guests, her own safety is taken care of.
On average, Jayalakshmi earns between `35,000 and `40, 000 a month. While her experience on the road has been largely positive, there have been incidents of bias and aggression by male drivers. “But it is part of the profession,” Jayalakshmi says with a shrug. K V LAKSHMANA