This woman defied stereotypes to become a rickshaw driver and found financial independence
Her name is Rehana and she one of the few, if not the only, female rickshaw drivers you’ll find on the streets of Lahore. As a child, she wanted to be a boy. She used to play the games that boys played — marbles, kite flying. She was never interested in going to school despite her parents’ insistence. She was a complete tomboy. But as she grew up my parents told me she would have to get married one day. They eventually she got married. She tried to keep her family together, but my husband left her
Once out of work and after a lot of deliberations and even suicidal thoughts, she decided to get a rickshaw on installments in February this year. A lot of people helped her with the money. She had some of my own saved too. The showroom people were really helpful and kind; She told them her husband had left her and she wanted to work for her children. They were very encouraging and gave her the rickshaw on discounted installments and eased the purchasing process too. “God bless everyone who thought so much about me” she said.
Her story
“After riding a motorcycle for so long, I didn’t find driving a rickshaw difficult. I thought the method was the same and practised driving myself. I brought it home from the showroom myself.”
“In the beginning, I used to pick and drop schoolchildren and had girls going for tuitions. I barely took customers from the roads; I only picked up women if I found them on the way, but I never waited for customers like rickshaw drivers usually do. I didn’t want to wait among men; they make all kinds of comments. So my main source of income was through schoolchildren and teachers.”
“But this could not go on for long because a lot of those children shifted schools. I became worried about paying the instalments. At the petrol station where I refuelled my rickshaw, I asked them to connect me with some schoolchildren. They didn’t have any leads. I was getting desperate and even thought of committing suicide again.”
“But a person at the petrol station suggested that I join the Careem fleet and even made me meet his friend who was already associated with the company. They took me to the Dharampura office of Careem where they conducted a little interview, got my rickshaw details and trained me a bit. That’s how my journey with Careem started a month ago.”
“After I started riding the motorcycle, I saw so many women doing the same. Women driving cars have appreciated me. A lot of women asked me to teach them how to drive a rickshaw, but I said I will only if they take it seriously and not give it up.”
“I’ve told a lot of women around me not to give up, and keep their spirits high. I want to tell women to earn for themselves, for their children. Have enough courage, be brave. Don’t seek anyone’s help; it’s always best to help yourself. It gives you a sense of independence.”
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