<p class="title">The Covid-19 induced lockdown turned into a blessing in disguise for Ramya from Kamblapadavu in Mudipu as she has successfully become an auto driver.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It was her husband Punith Acharya, a carpenter by profession, who motivated her to learn to drive an auto.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“I was working in a mall prior to the lockdown. After the announcement of the lockdown, I was jobless and my husband purchased an auto, to drive during his free time, to earn money. When I was sitting idle at home, my husband asked me to learn driving,” she told <em><span class="italic">DH</span></em>.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“I learnt driving without much difficulty. I decided to drive the auto and earn a living, thereby supplementing the income of the family. Now, I am happy that the lockdown has not rendered me jobless and in fact, helped me to become self-reliant,” she added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“I do not park the auto in an auto stand and wait for the people to hire the auto. Instead, I remain at home and people in and around my house and surrounding villages hire the auto as and when required,” she explained.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“I take my four-year-old son along with me sometimes, when no one is at home,” she said, with a smile on her face.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Being the lone woman auto driver, I have not faced any kind of discrimination from my male counterparts in Mudipu and surrounding areas. In fact, they too have been motivating me,” she added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Asha workers, anganwadi workers in and around Kamblapadavu are happy that they have a woman auto driver now. They too motivate me to continue my work.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“During the lockdown, I have taken a family from Vijayapura for a Covid-19 test to the health clinic in Mudipu, so that they could return to their native. Women should become self-reliant and empowered so that they too can support the family,” said Ramya.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“I have given a free ride for senior citizens and those who are severely ill. I don’t feel like collecting money from them,” she said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Now, Ramya has also enrolled for a fashion design course conducted by Jana Shikshana Trust and Prajna Skill Training Centre at Mudipu. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“Ramya who has taken up self-employment during lockdown is a model for others,” said MGNREGS former ombudsman Sheena Shetty.</p>
<p class="title">The Covid-19 induced lockdown turned into a blessing in disguise for Ramya from Kamblapadavu in Mudipu as she has successfully become an auto driver.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It was her husband Punith Acharya, a carpenter by profession, who motivated her to learn to drive an auto.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“I was working in a mall prior to the lockdown. After the announcement of the lockdown, I was jobless and my husband purchased an auto, to drive during his free time, to earn money. When I was sitting idle at home, my husband asked me to learn driving,” she told <em><span class="italic">DH</span></em>.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“I learnt driving without much difficulty. I decided to drive the auto and earn a living, thereby supplementing the income of the family. Now, I am happy that the lockdown has not rendered me jobless and in fact, helped me to become self-reliant,” she added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“I do not park the auto in an auto stand and wait for the people to hire the auto. Instead, I remain at home and people in and around my house and surrounding villages hire the auto as and when required,” she explained.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“I take my four-year-old son along with me sometimes, when no one is at home,” she said, with a smile on her face.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Being the lone woman auto driver, I have not faced any kind of discrimination from my male counterparts in Mudipu and surrounding areas. In fact, they too have been motivating me,” she added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Asha workers, anganwadi workers in and around Kamblapadavu are happy that they have a woman auto driver now. They too motivate me to continue my work.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“During the lockdown, I have taken a family from Vijayapura for a Covid-19 test to the health clinic in Mudipu, so that they could return to their native. Women should become self-reliant and empowered so that they too can support the family,” said Ramya.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“I have given a free ride for senior citizens and those who are severely ill. I don’t feel like collecting money from them,” she said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Now, Ramya has also enrolled for a fashion design course conducted by Jana Shikshana Trust and Prajna Skill Training Centre at Mudipu. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“Ramya who has taken up self-employment during lockdown is a model for others,” said MGNREGS former ombudsman Sheena Shetty.</p>
