Driving For Change: How A Woman Cab Driver Claimed Financial Independence And Empowered Others

Starting from driving an auto to purchasing a new car, Meena, an Uber driver, has overcome all hurdles to become financially independent. Driving a cab has been a transformative journey for her. From supporting her family financially to supporting her daughter's education, she has done it all just by being a cab driver. 

She hustled through the initial barriers and successfully managed her household expenses and cultivated a secure environment for her family. Turning every mile into a building block, she became a role model for her community, giving hope to over 100 women to pursue their dreams. Looking at hindsight, she feels proud that as a mother, she has supported her family financially through her hard work.

Financial independence has always been the centre stage for working women. Cab services such as Uber hiring women as drivers have opened doors of financial freedom for many. From supporting families to helping in children’s education, women cab drivers did it all.

Here are the excerpts from the interview:

How Has Cab Service Upskilled Finances?

"With my earnings, I was able to manage our daily household expenses, support my daughters through college, and ensure their education was never interrupted by financial difficulties. Today, whatever stability and progress we have achieved as a family are closely connected to the opportunities that driving gave me," Meena said.

How Much Does A Woman Cab Driver Earn?

Salary paid to cab drivers is gender-neutral. There is no fixed salary as such, and it varies for every ride. Depending on the time and distance, the salary is calculated and credited to the driver’s account. 

How Is Safety Ensured For Women Cab Drivers?

For women cab drivers working at wee hours, safety is paramount. Over the years, cab services have taken stringent steps to ensure that women cab drivers are ensured full safety during working hours. GPS tracking through the application helps women cab drivers manoeuvre unknown routes without worry. Additionally, trip tracking ensures that every journey is recorded and the current location of the driver during a trip.

"When I am driving, especially in the evening, my family also feels more comfortable because they know that the trip is being tracked through the app. That feeling is very important. It allows me to focus on my work without constantly worrying about my safety. Personally, I do not feel that I need additional safety features. The platform has already created an environment where I feel secure and capable of doing my job," she said.

Empowering Other Women

Women cab drivers who have taken the wheel into their own hands after breaking stereotypes have not only claimed financial independence themselves but also encouraged several others to see driving as a profession that they can pursue.

"When I first started driving, many women around me were curious. They would ask me how I learned to drive, whether I felt safe, and whether I could really earn enough to support a family. At that time, very few women in my community saw driving as a profession they could pursue. But as they watched my journey over the years, supporting my family and becoming financially independent, many began to believe that they could do the same," she said.

Over the years, several women from the community learned driving and eventually joined Uber. Today, many of them are earning independently, supporting their families, and making their own financial decisions.

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