In a man's world, she is in the driver's seat

PUNE: Savita Kumbhar (41) is an enterprising woman, who, through sheer grit and determination transformed her life. She started from scratch to build a successful business venture without any management mantras.
From home-maker to owning three vans that ferry 95 schoolchildren, Savita has fought against many adversities to reach where she is.
When tragedy struck 11 years ago and she lost her autorickshaw driver husband in an accident, it robbed her of all support.Back then, she was like any other homemaker looking after her daughter and home.
Realisation that she would have to shoulder all the responsibilities dawned quickly and she decided to drive the auto to earn a living. “I enrolled in a driving school. It was the most difficult time of my life. I hadn't been out of the house until then, nor had any relatives in the city to help me. I didn't know how to make things work, but I had to do something for my daughter. Everyday was a challenge. There were days when there was no food to eat. I learnt to drive the rickshaw and got a licence,” Savita recalled.
The three vans she owns today ferry 95 schoolchildren in multiple trips. She has employed two drivers while she is on the wheels herself in one of them. The early days were tough. She found it difficult to leave her five-year-old daughter alone at home while she was out in the rickshaw. “There was nobody to look after her and I could not leave her with neighbours all the time, so I would take her along and make her sit in the luggage space of the rickshaw. I met all kinds of people — some who encouraged for taking the bold step. Others would advise me to work as a domestic help washing utensils and clothes at people's homes,” Savita said.
However, with single-minded devotion to provide her daughter a good life she put in years of hard work. “After driving the rickshaw for three years, I decided to try a car and secured a 4-wheeler licence. I bought a van after borrowing money to ferry school children. The beginning was tough and it was hard to break into a business dominated by men, but parents showed their confidence in me. There has been no looking back,” Savita said. Within a year, Savita had repaid the loan and later saved enough to buy two more vans.
Her job taught her many new skills. “The first time, the tyre had a puncture, I had no clue what to do. But now, I can change tyres within 15 minutes. I had to put up with drivers who would try to run me off the road. They would cut lanes to make me nervous. But those are things of the past. I have gained respect . As for my daughter, she is in standard XI and very proud of me,” Savita said.
She still has to fulfil her dream of owning a fleet of cars with women drivers. “Some women have approached me to help them. I have asked them to them to learn car-driving and offered my support once they get a licence . Ferrying schoolchildren is a responsibility ,” Savita said.