20-Yr-Old Is Himachal's First Woman Taxi Driver

Young Indian women have mastered the art of breaking stereotypes and doing what their heart tells them to do. One such gutsy woman is 20-year-old Ravina Thakur from Manali who has taken up taxi driving to help her family tide over the financial crisis they have been facing. In fact, she is the first woman in Himachal Pradesh to become a taxi driver.

Ravina's father's sudden demise compelled her to take to driving. He too drove a taxi to fend for his family. He used to impart driving lessons to her daughter. Ravina received her commercial driving licence this year and started driving her father's taxi which was lying unused at their home.

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Family

Ravina lives with her mother and two younger siblings in Manali. The family is originally from Jogindernagar.

Her mother Shanta Devi used to run a tea stall in Manali that was demolished in the four-laning of national highways.

Trials and Tribulations

“People said many things when my father taught me how to drive. There was never a thought that it would become a source of our livelihood."

It wasn't easy for Ravina to decide to drive a taxi, braving the society's barbs.

“People still taunt us but who cares! I have a family to look after and my dreams to fulfil. I don’t find anything wrong in being a taxi driver,” Ravina told HT. She added that people’s comments won’t help her family earn a living.

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Her mother. however, keeps her morale up.“I support my daughter’s decision. She learnt driving from her father. I am happy and will always stand by her dream,” she told HT.

Future plans

Ravina dreams of joining the army after completing her graduation.

Girls like Ravina are an asset for their families and country. More power to her!

Picture credit: HT

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