Women on Wheels (WOW)
In partnership with All India Women’s Conference (www.aiwc.org), Vikas Puri Branch.

Automobile production and use has increased dramatically over the last decade in India. There are many women driving (private) cars, but at the inception of WOW, no women taxi drivers or mechanics. Hence, they have been excluded from this fast growing industry. WOW will start the process of empowering women in this industry.  

The Women on Wheels program was inaugurated in the spring of 2008.

Stage decoration at inaugural ceremony
(click for larger picture)

WOW has begun training women to become qualified mechanics in garages or licensed taxi drivers.  This program is a unique model to empower destitute women in an economically significant way through training in motor car repairs and taxi driving. This will prepare women taxi drivers to be ready to operate during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

See these YouTube news videos from India about WOW! 
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woNT7kvHnLg
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE7N7lsYuqc

In 2009, Australian TV had a news article describing the work done by WOW! and continues to have the article online at this site: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/12/2464005.htm

Pictures from the inaugural ceremony:

Inaugural speech

TV interview

Initial trainees

Hat distribution

Street sign

Training car

WOW Goals

• Train 200 women by 2010 in to be licensed taxi drivers in South Delhi, India, from a certified driving school.

• Train 40 women qualified car mechanics

• Create a model for a national program.

• Present a global impact at the Commonwealth Games in 2010

Licensed Taxi Drivers

The licensed taxi drivers will operate Radio Taxis, with GPS, in New Delhi. Drivers will be in contact with the base station through the radio at all times to assure their safety. Initially, they will serve school children and female employees of BPO centers. They will also be preparing to serve Women athletes at the Commonwealth Games in 2010. 

SHAMA, Inc. would like to support the training of six girls per year, 2 in a batch. The training course lasts two weeks. Cost per student is $130 for the training and license fee.

 Qualified Mechanics

Woman as mechanics is a new idea in India. However, this occupation offers good pay and is certainly within the capabilities of women.  Six students a year would be chosen for this training. The cost of the training is $450 a year, per student. Training takes one year or two years, depending on the level of certification.

 In 2008

There are 22 women in training to be taxi drivers, women who were recruited from AIWC shelters for women. This training secures their futures.  They are trained in international standards of fire safety, English, assertiveness, and self-defense. Their cars are equipped with GPS, a camera, and emergency systems.