‘Stree Ride’ opens new roads for women

metro india news  I hyderabad

In a major initiative aimed at promoting women’s empowerment and economic independence, the Women Safety Wing on Saturday launched “Stree Ride – Women Drivers Initiative,” a programme designed to create sustainable employment opportunities for women in the transportation sector.

Officials said women’s safety, empowerment and financial independence are closely linked, and providing dignified employment opportunities can help strengthen women’s position in society. The initiative seeks to encourage women to enter professions traditionally dominated by men while ensuring greater representation of women in public and private transport services.

As part of the first phase of the programme, 50 women bike riders, four women auto-rickshaw drivers and one woman cab driver were provided specialized training. Officials noted that the presence of women drivers in the transport sector would help improve the sense of safety and confidence among women passengers, particularly in urban areas and at transit hubs such as bus stations and railway stations.

The training programme was conducted under the leadership of MAWO CEO Jai Bharati. Zippi CEO Prasanna Narayana and Mahindra Auto extended support by providing vehicles, while Bigili, Zippi and MAWO collaborated to create employment opportunities for the trained women drivers.

Director General of Police C.V. Anand formally flagged off the Stree Ride initiative and interacted with the participants. Addressing the gathering, he said it was encouraging to see women coming forward with confidence to work as professional drivers. He observed that women’s empowerment, safety and skill development remain important priorities in the government’s development agenda.

Emphasizing the importance of family support, Anand said encouragement from husbands, parents, siblings and other family members plays a vital role in helping women succeed in any profession. Such support, he said, strengthens confidence and enables women to pursue new opportunities.

Recalling initiatives such as SHE Teams and SHE Cabs introduced during his tenure as Cyberabad Police Commissioner, the DGP said the police department has consistently worked towards strengthening women’s safety mechanisms. He assured the participants that the police would stand by them in case they face any difficulties or harassment while performing their duties.

Anand also highlighted the growing role of women in diverse fields, noting that women are already serving as fighter pilots and excelling in several challenging professions. He called upon women to expand their presence in transportation, service and manufacturing sectors and break traditional barriers.

Officials described Stree Ride as more than a transportation initiative, saying it represents a movement that can provide women with confidence, dignity, financial security and independence while helping improve their families’ economic well-being.

Women Safety Wing DG Charu Sinha, Transport Commissioner Ilambarithi, DG (Law and Order) Mahesh Bhagwat, DG Organisations Swati Lakra, Multi Zone-I IG Chandrasekhar Reddy, IG Road Safety Ramesh Naidu, senior officials and representatives of voluntary organisations attended the programme.