Women Cab Service To Be Launched On March 8

Women on Wheels (WoW), Hyderabad's first women for women cab service, was announced today.

To begin with, four Celerio CNG cars will be rolled out on March 8 at 8 am by Minister for Women & Child Welfare Satyavati Rathod.

Women Cab Service is the brainchild of YoDee (Yosha Deedithi Foundation), and is supported by the Department of Women Development & Child Welfare, the TSRTC, the transport department, the police, the Sultan-Ul-Uloom Education Society, Radission Blu, We Connect, Area 9 Ladies Circle of Round Table India and others.

Four women drivers - D Sharada, V Dhanalakshmi, M Soujanya and T Sharada - out of 36 women who were trained rigorously for over several months, will man (woman?) the service, announced Jyotsna Angara, YoDee founder, at a press conference at Radisson Blu. All the four drivers are in the age group of 28 to 40 years, and are married.

Besides in driving, the women were trained in confidence building, road etiquette, self-defence, a concept called Atithi Devo Bhava (the guest is god), first aid, small repairs, basic English and communication skills, the topography of the city, Google Map reading and so on.

Each of the vehicles costs Rs 5.25 lakh, and the vehicles are all financed. The Women & Child Welfare Department subsidized the cost to the extent of 35%, and the government provided even the 10% margin money required. On the whole, the beneficiaries got a subsidy of Rs 2.25 lakh.

Only women can use this cab service. They can book the cabs through the EasyCommute app, the technology partner.

To begin with the service will be available only during the day, and will subsequently be extended for more hours.

The launch will see a women's car rally and treasure hunt held on March 8 in the morning, flagged off at the Sultan-Ul-Uloom Education Society at Banjara Hills. It will conclude at Radisson Blu.

Women aspiring to be WoW drivers may approach YoDee, which will provide training free of cost and help them become part of WoW. They should have passed at least class VII, and should have an Aadhaar card and must provide address proof. For more details, they can reach out to YoDee on 7702223405.