Jilumol Mariet Thomas: Asia's First Armless Woman With Driving License

Jilumol Mariet Thomas has run post to pillar for years in hopes of receiving her four-wheeler driving license. The 32-year-old from Kerala finally became the first Asian woman without arms to secure the license this week. After a long wait of over six years, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan himself handed over the license to her in person at Palakkad on December 3. Thomas uses her feet to steer the wheel and change gears, and a voice commands-based system for operating indicators, wipers and headlamps.

Thomas, from Kerala's Idukki district, was born without arms due to a congenital disorder. She works as a graphic designer at a leading art publishing house in Kochi. After having to wait for more than half a decade, her dream to be a licensed driver came true on Saturday, with the help of her driving school, the State Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and a private firm in Kochi which modified her car with disability-friendly adjustments.

How Thomas Waited Six Years To Achieve This Feat 

According to reports, Jilumol Mariet Thomas always dreamt of driving a car, especially after losing her parents, so she could be independent. She learnt driving at the Mariya Driving School in Vaduthala and approached the Thodupuzha RTO in the Idukki district, seeking a license. The RTO officials denied her request, following which she determinedly approached the Kerala High Court.

After the court intervened, Thomas took part in a test and drove a modified car in front of the MVD officials. However, officials once again refused to issue her licence. She then finally approached the State Commission for Persons with Disabilities. The Commission cited the example of Vikram Agnihotri from Indore, the first man without arms in India to get a driver's license.

Following this, she was able to finally receive the license this year. "Mobility was my biggest handicap and now I am excited as I have got the license thus getting over my biggest impediment," Thomas told the news agency, IANS. Thomas' determination to seek the license at any cost, and not give up after so many years. is an inspiration to many.

Her driving instructors too are proud of her grit despite being rejected so many times. "We were not too confident, but she proved our perceptions wrong by her grit, determination and commitment. Very soon we realised that she would be able to make it," the driving school owner, Jopan said. 

She was supported by Vi Innovations Pvt Ltd in Kochi, which used assistive technology to make the necessary electronic adjustments to her 2018 Maruti Celerio and gave her wings by developing a voice commands-based system for operating indicators, wipers and headlamps for her car.