Kolkata: Shashi Panja, state minister for Women and Child Development and Social Welfare felicitated professional women chauffeurs at a function on Saturday.
The function was organised by Azad Foundation and its strategic partner Sakha consulting wings. Azad foundation has trained women who will be driving pink cabs, an initiative taken up by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The state government is giving Rs 1.50 lakh to women drivers who will manage the pink cabs.
Addressing the gathering, Panja said: "This is an inspiring thing to see women at the wheels. It will encourage more women to choose this profession and these women drivers from modest backgrounds prove that despite all struggles, women can bring about the change we need today."
Patty Hoffman, US Consulate General; Debashis Bose, director, Transport Directorate were also present at the meeting.
A Bengali documentary film titled Driving Change showed the trials, challenges and success of some of Azad's women chauffeurs. The state government is encouraging women to take up driving as a profession. Many women are showing keen interest to learn driving.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her recent meetings had urged women to come forward and adopt driving as their profession.