JOIN USC S Radhika, a resident of Kulai Gudda in the city and owner of Cauvery Ambulance Service, has been selected for the maiden Mangaluru Press Club Award 2015.
She has been operating ambulance services for her livelihood from 2002. At present, she has a fleet of 10 ambulances.
A committee, led by Hampi Kannada University former Vice Chancellor Prof B A Viveka Rai, theatre director Sadananda Suvarna and School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya, retired professor Rita Noronha selected Radhika for the award.
The award will be presented during Mangaluru Press Club Day celebrations to be held at Urwa Church Hall on December 22. Superintendent of Police Dr S D Sharanappa will present the award.
The award carries a cash prize of Rs 10,001 along with citation and memento.Lady behind wheels
Radhika’s husband, C S Suresh, an ambulance driver, introduced her to driving ambulance. The world turned upside down for Radhika, when her husband died in 2002. She was left with two daughters – aged seven and four – look after. As her husband was the only breadwinner of the family, an ambulance driver Sunil Kumar, a family friend, encouraged her to face the life with courage. He drives the ambulance in her fleet even to this day.
Radhika took up the challenge and became a full-time driver of the ambulance to take care of her family. She purchased ambulance by borrowing a loan from the bank.
Even to this day, she purchases a new ambulance once the loan borrowed for the previous one is repaid to the bank. The banks too have extended support to her. A total of seven drivers work under her as ambulance drivers.
She is ready to drive the ambulance at any odd hour and can drive up to 1,000 km at a stretch. She takes another driver along when she has to cover a long distance. She has driven ambulance to places like Jharkhand, Mumbai, Tamil Nadu and Bhopal.