Woman Drives Public Transport in Sudurpashchim

Dhangadhi. A few years ago, the profession of driving was seen only among men. While women are seen in significant numbers as private vehicle drivers, men still dominate the role of public transport drivers.

When the song 'Jaau Na Ho Driver Dai Steering Ghumaudai' was produced, perhaps it was not even imagined that women could also be drivers. This song does not apply to Sandhya Joshi, 33, from Shuklaphanta Municipality-7, Kanchanpur. Because even though she is a woman, she drives public transport.

Sandhya starts her day by picking up passengers on the 6-lane road of Dhangadhi before 6 AM every day. She can be seen welcoming passengers while handling the steering of a white EV Hiace on the Dhangadhi-Mahendranagar route.

She is the only woman driving a public EV Hiace in Sudurpashchim. Ravina Chand from Baitadi drives a Bolero jeep.

Sandhya, who leaves home early with the Hiace, returns late in the evening. She has been driving public transport for one year. She did not become a driver by choice. Initially, she ran a hotel. 'As per the family's advice, an EV Hiace was bought about two and a half years ago with some savings and some loans. My husband used to drive on the Dhangadhi-Mahendranagar route. Suddenly, the situation changed,' Sandhya said.

Her father-in-law fell ill in Bangalore, India, and her husband had to go to India. The situation was whether to keep the vehicle idle or hire a driver. When a driver was hired, there were problems with not submitting the income and incurring significant expenses even for minor damage to the vehicle.

'Since we faced a lot of trouble when others drove it, I decided to learn and drive the vehicle myself,' she said.

She practiced for 17 days and took the trial for a driving license. Her first attempt was unsuccessful. The second time, she passed. And then she took the steering wheel herself.

'I was scared, but someone had to start,' Sandhya said. Her childhood was spent in Bhimdatta Municipality-7, Haldhukhal, Kanchanpur. Her parents ran a shop. Since childhood, she dreamed of becoming a police officer. She started preparing for it in class 8. Her family said that being a police officer was not suitable for a girl, so that dream stopped.

Sandhya studied up to class 12. She got married at the age of 17. Four years after her marriage, her mother-in-law passed away. After that, all the responsibilities of the house fell on her shoulders. Her husband started going abroad for employment. She had to manage farming and the entire family.

Before driving public transport, Sandhya had driven a hand tractor used for plowing fields. When her father-in-law asked her, 'Can you drive?', she confidently replied, 'Yes, I can'.

At that time, it was considered unusual for women to drive tractors in the village, but she learned. She plowed the fields. She farmed. Even now, she does the farming work herself. 'I felt very happy at that time, I realized that women can also do it,' she said.

That confidence later gave her the courage to drive public transport. She drives the Hiace two to three trips a day on the Dhangadhi-Mahendranagar route.

Since she is on the road all day, there is no fixed time for meals. She has to eat at roadside hotels. Her husband is in India. Her sister takes care of her children. Her 14-year-old son studies in class 8, and her 9-year-old daughter studies in class 3.

'I don't get to spend much time with the children, they are understanding,' Sandhya said.

Hundreds of public vehicles run on the Dhangadhi-Mahendranagar route. Among them, she is the only woman driver. Initially, other drivers, co-drivers, and passengers were surprised to see her. But now the situation is changing. Regular passengers recognize her. She says that co-drivers and other drivers also treat her with respect.

The women in the village are happy to see Sandhya's work. Many of them choose Sandhya's vehicle when they need to come to Dhangadhi or Mahendranagar. 'The idea that women should be confined only to the kitchen is changing. It is a matter of pride to see her drive a vehicle,' said her neighbor Rekha Shahi.

Bhagyarathidevi Singh from Shuklaphanta also believes that women should not be limited to household chores. They say that Sandhya's courage has given a new perspective to many women in the village.

Sandhya herself gives a message to women. 'Women can do any work they want. They have to say they can do it, and families also have to give opportunities,' she said.

Driving public transport is not an easy job. Sometimes there are fewer passengers. Sometimes it takes two to three hours to wait for a turn. Sometimes there are minor disputes with passengers. But she considers all these as part of the job. She says she earns about five thousand rupees daily. From that, she is trying to manage household expenses, pay off loans, and secure her family's future. She said that she plans to add another vehicle after her husband returns to Nepal.