‘Makkal’ gets a royal rider

Besides riding in the autorickshaw, Princess Sheikha Hend Faisl Al Qassemi of Sharjah distributed auto drivers’ licenses to one transgender, three hijab-clad women, and 30 other women, who will now be joining Makkal Auto’s 5,700-strong team in the city.

Receiving the licenses is the first step in the direction of what has been their dream for quite some time now. Yasmeen Jawahar, CEO, Makkal Auto, said, “Many women want to feel empowered by driving their autos full-time, it gives them a sense of ownership and courage. Particularly Muslim women who are stereotyped to stick to conventional jobs, and transgenders, who are often forced to be sex workers or domestic help.”

Of the 5,700-member team, 330 are women, said Yasmeen. Adding to this will be the 34 who received their licenses today, along with 112 other ‘hijab pilots’ or Muslim women drivers and nine more transgenders who are currently being trained to drive autos.

Women’s Pride Icon, an app launched by Makkal Auto on Wednesday, will give customers the options to choose from hijab pilots, women drivers and transgenders besides double-tracking geo-safety features.

Thoulath K, a hijab pilot, is a mother of three adolescent children. She said, “I come from a family of auto drivers. I wanted to become one, too, so I could reduce my family’s financial burden.” She hopes other Muslim women are inspired by her and become auto drivers as well.

Born to Win, an organisation that rehabilitates transgenders, has partnered with Makkal Auto to increase the employment opportunities for them. Sarala is one such transgender who volunteered to become a full-time auto driver — she received her license from the Princess on Wednesday.