Coimbatore: In A First, Two Tribal Women Secure Driving License For Four-Wheeler

For the first time, Malliga and Selvi, two tribal women from a village near Anaikatti in Coimbatore, have successfully cleared the Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) driving test and obtained their four-wheeler driving licences on Friday.

Residents of Jambukandi tribal village, Malliga and Selvi, are both set to operate an electric auto with these licenses, not only to support their livelihoods but also to provide free transportation for the other tribal women in the region.

Daya Seva Sadan, a livelihood support centre based in Anaikatti, was able to make this initiative possible by funding their driving lessons through an institute and purchasing an electric auto worth ₹4.2 lakh for their use.

Dealing With Setbacks

Selvi's husband had passed away a year and a half ago, leaving her to raise their seven-year-old son alone. This made her journey even more challenging.

"I had no support from my parents or relatives. I had to earn on my own, so I started working as a farm labourer after my husband's death. That's when I came to know about Daya Seva Sadan and got employed at their livelihood centre," she said.

"After finishing work at the centre, many tribal women struggle to get home if we miss the bus. Seeing this, our centre's founder, R Soundararajan, decided to train us in driving. I didn't even know how to ride a bicycle before. He encouraged us and provided us with the necessary training," Selvi said.

Malliga, who works as a gardener in Daya Seva Sadan, said, "My husband is an auto driver, and he encouraged me to enrol in driving classes. That kind of support is rare for women like us...Many tribal residents, especially women, rely on autos and other vehicles to travel outside their settlements due to the limited bus services in this region," she shared.

Founder of Daya Seva Sadan, R Soundararajan said, "This is the first time tribal women from this area have received LMV licences. The electric auto will be used for multiple purposes—purchasing groceries for our cafeteria run by tribal women and providing pick-up and drop services for women staff. So far, only male auto drivers operate in this area. With our electric auto, women can travel safely and confidently. We plan to offer free travel exclusively for tribal women."