What role do women play in northern India?
In rural India, where patriarchal structures are historically entrenched, seeing a woman behind the wheel remains an exception that challenges preconceptions. This structural discrimination particularly affects women, limiting their access to education and essential resources.
Between social sidelining and the feminization of poverty, how can Indian women be reintegrated into the heart of society and restored to their rightful place?
Since 2014, 56 women have dared to take the wheel, defying prejudice and securing a more stable future. At the root of this transformation: the Karuna-Shechen program for underprivileged women in Bihar, training them to become drivers of e-rickshaws (electric tuk-tuks).
This innovative initiative enables them to transport patients from Karuna-Shechen clinics to their homes. Now also established in Jharkhand, this training plays a key role in the economic emancipation of women, enabling them to take control of their daily lives while helping to change society’s perceptions.
Breaking stereotypes:
Despite social and sometimes family reticence, female e-rickshaw drivers are persevering and asserting their legitimacy on the road.
Churamani Hansda, who has been driving since December 2024 in Musabani, says:
“At first, I was a bit nervous and had to face the mockery of male drivers. But today, not only do I drive with confidence, but I also feel a great sense of pride when my passengers salute my career choice.”
Churamani Hansda, 36 years old.
Little by little, they are earning the respect of their community and proving that the road belongs to everyone.
Economic empowerment: a new independence for women
Karuna-Shechen’s business model is based on three pillars to help these women achieve personal emancipation:
- Free driving lessons
- A 50% subsidy on the cost of the vehicle
- Easy repayment: we encourage drivers to repay the remainder from the savings generated by their income.
NB: Thanks to the regular income they receive from driving an e-rickshaw, most of them manage to pay off the subsidized cost of the vehicle in less than two years.
Driving an e-rickshaw also enables Indian women to generate a regular income and bring them financial stability. This training has a major impact on their daily lives, enabling them to improve their living conditions.
Churamani tells us that she “gets immense satisfaction from contributing to [her] children’s school fees and household expenses”.
As an e-rickshaw driver and trainer Gurubari explains, “This activity has brought me not only financial freedom, but also respect from my family and community.
“I am infinitely grateful to Karuna-Shechen. Thanks to this organization, I have gone from an intense financial struggle to economic stability”
Gurubari Baskey, 48 years old.
With a stable income comes economic independence, giving them greater freedom of choice and decision-making power.
Reclaiming public space
Long absent from traffic, women e-rickshaw drivers are now making their mark on the roads, transforming their daily lives and redefining female mobility. By taking up this profession, they are asserting their place in the public arena and shaking things up. For Gurubari, “it’s a wonderful initiative that has enabled many disadvantaged women like me to become independent”.
Behind the wheel, they don’t just work: they become visible and impose a new perspective on the place of women in urban and rural life. Their presence in the public space inspires other women to leave the domestic sphere and claim their freedom of movement.
By carrying passengers, they offer a reassuring alternative to those who hesitate to use transport with male drivers. More than a job, these e-rickshaws are a lever for independence and a symbol of social change.
Impact beyond women drivers
As well as offering an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional transport, the e-rickshaw project makes up for the lack of public transport and improves connectivity in the villages of northern India.
But the most profound impact lies in changing mentalities, and these 56 women are just the first in a wider movement: that of an India where every woman has the right to choose her own route.
