50 Madras Women Gain Financial Independence Through New Pink Auto Initiative
A new "Pink Auto" initiative in Anna Nagar, Madras, has empowered 50 women from economically challenged backgrounds by helping them own and drive pink autorickshaws. Launched through a partnership between the Rotary Club of Anna Nagar Madras, Aptus Value Housing Finance Ltd, and the non-profit organisation ANEW, the project provides training, grants, and loans to help vulnerable women secure financial independence.
Under the program's financial model, Aptus Value Housing Finance Ltd provides a grant of Rs 1 lakh for each beneficiary. The participating women contribute Rs 20,000 of their own money, while the remaining Rs 1.5 lakh is financed through a bank loan to be repaid in monthly instalments. ANEW identifies the beneficiaries from vulnerable backgrounds and trains them to become professional drivers.
Dr Annalakshmi M, Chairperson of ANEW, noted that the focus of the project is long-term financial stability, with women drivers capable of earning up to Rs 1,500 a day. She added that the organisation also plans to train women to operate cabs in the future.
Among the new auto owners is Nandhini, a single mother who previously worked as a parking lot attendant earning about Rs 15,000 a month. Through the initiative, she now owns her own pink autorickshaw and hopes to double her monthly income to secure a better future for her daughter. To set an example, Nandhini plans to refuse to overcharge passengers and will offer free rides to the elderly and persons with disabilities.
Another beneficiary, Mohana, transitioned from working as a domestic worker to driving a pink auto. She now also trains other women to take the wheel. Mohana highlighted the flexibility of the profession, which allows women to balance their family responsibilities while earning a better livelihood.
For Rajeshwari, a widowed mother raising her three-year-old son, owning the auto has restored her confidence.
M Anandan, the founder of Aptus, stated that the goal of the project is to make women financially independent, while Rotary District Governor Suresh Jain added that empowering women is equivalent to empowering the country.
In addition to providing livelihoods, the initiative emphasizes ethical driving practices, encouraging the 50 drivers not to overcharge passengers, thereby establishing a safer and more reliable transport option for commuters in the city.
