Driving an autorickshaw allows the women of Mysore to become sole bread winners

Once considered an unlikely livelihood for women, autorickshaw driving has become a powerful avenue of self-confidence for many women in Mysuru, who are the sole breadwinners of their families.

A total of 45 female drivers in the city have painstakingly rebuilt their lives brick by brick after losing the support of a male member (in most cases husbands) of their family for various reasons.

For Uma, a resident of Gayathripuram, life took a turn for the worse after the death of her husband, a truck driver. But she found a new lease of life behind the wheel of an autorickshaw, earning an average of ₹1,000 a day. On special occasions like Dasara, her daily earnings reach ₹1,500-2,000.

After the death of her husband, a truck driver, Uma started driving an autorickshaw and earned an average of ₹1,000 a day. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Determined to make ends meet, Uma ferries passengers until 10.30pm, often working long hours to support her children, who also face health challenges. She underwent a three-month training organized by the Mysuru-based Taliru Foundation, which works to alleviate poverty among women and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for them.

“Driving an autorickshaw has given me a dignified life. Unlike a job where the salary is paid only at the end of the month, this profession provides me with a daily income. Moreover, since it is not bound by fixed working hours, I can find time to take care of my children,” says Uma, who is also a karate practitioner.

Driver Lakshmi, a single woman living alone in Bhogadi, describes the opportunity as a turning point. “This has changed my life. It’s a rebirth for me,” she said.

Manasa driver also travels to remote places in neighboring districts to ferry passengers. The earnings she earns from driving an autorickshaw have helped her meet the medical expenses of her mother, who is suffering from a brain tumor.

Ms. Manasa often receives calls from women’s theater troupes that perform at night in remote villages and transport the performers to their destinations. Due to the late hour and the distance involved, he sometimes spends the night in his autorickshaw waiting for him to take them back.

For Manjula, a single parent from Srirampura, switching from working in a garment factory to driving an autorickshaw has worked well.

Jyothi, a female driver in Mysuru. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Three-phase selection process

Taliru Foundation has trained women to operate electric vehicles (EVs) and compressed natural gas (CNG) autorickshaws in six batches. After a three-phase selection process, the foundation identified the eligible beneficiaries, provided them with driving training and enabled them with financial assistance to purchase autorickshaws.

Rotary Mysuru, Rotary East, Rotary Metro through their project named ‘Swalambi Stree’ and R. Guru, Chairman NR Foundation are financially supporting this initiative in many ways.

Chitra AR, founder of Taliru Foundation, who was present at the Ideal Java premises during an autorickshaw rally organized by women drivers to mark the Karnataka Rajyotsava on Sunday, said, “The biggest challenge is access to loans. There is still a social taboo in our society. Male guarantee is mostly mandatory while women drivers apply for loans.”

Many of the women trained by Taliru Foundation come from families where they have no male support, and providing a male guarantee to secure a loan proves to be a challenge. “Our ambition is to train more women to drive a school bus,” added Chitra.

Taliru Foundation has trained women like Mangala (pictured) to operate electric vehicles (EVs) and compressed natural gas (CNG) autorickshaws in six batches. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Female drivers are still facing difficulties even when finding a parking spot for autorickshaws.

Women aged 25-50 from Mysuru and neighboring Mandya, Chamarajanagara, Kodagu were trained at Taliru Foundation.

According to the information shared by women drivers, their income is 3-5 times higher after they start driving an autorickshaw. Most of the auto drivers were previously employed as security guards, vegetable vendors, food delivery, petrol pump and factory workers where they faced hardships, working in inconvenient timings for relatively lower earnings.

Through their WhatsApp group, ‘Auto Sakhi’, female drivers have created a support network to connect with passengers instantly. Group members also extend free transport services to pregnant women and people with disabilities.

Published – 01 Nov 2026 19:26 IST