E Arun & Tarun Kartick
Port Blair, Apr 17: Miss. Laxmi Mondal, a resident of Nayagoan has become the first lady in Andaman and Nicobar Islands to start driving an Auto Rickshaw. Today 33 years old Laxmi started driving her auto rickshaw from Shadipur Chowk after a simple function in which Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, MP, Andaman and Nicobar Islands was also present.
Miss. Laxmi gave her first ride to Mrs. Sheella Singh, Councillor Ward No. 15 and expressed gratitude towards Mrs. Sheela Singh for her eternal support. Thereafter she started driving her auto rickshaw for public. During the function SHO, PS Aberdeen was also present, who urged the lady driver to follow all road safety norms and respect traffic rules.
This is the first time in Andaman and Nicobar Islands that a lady started driving an auto rickshaw which was considered men’s job. Miss. Laxmi will be an inspiration to many unemployed women and girls to take up jobs, which are considered odd and to show the world that women can equalize men in all regards.
“I drive auto because I enjoy it. People should do what they enjoy,” she said.
Miss. Laxmi will now provide better travelling services to the women of the area and the women will now feel safer to travel by an auto rickshaw even during night hours.
More and more unemployed women and girls should avail loans and take up some profession and provide better services to the women and the general public of these islands and remove the discrimination based on gender from this society.
Dear miss laxmi,
I will pray to god for your achievement. This is my promise to you when ever I will visit port Blair next I will book your auto rickshaw. Have a bright future.