THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Anila's hands didn't tremble when she started the KSRTC bus for the first time after touching the steering wheel. Anila, a native of Nellimoodu, became a KSRTC driver after driving a school bus till yesterday. Anila was confident because she had VP Sheela by her side to guide her as she drove through the city. KSRTC's only woman driver, VP Sheela, is training others after 10 years of experience. Jisna and Sreekutty from Thrissur and Sheena from Nilambur are also women drivers of KSRTC like Anila.

Anila arrives from the bus driver's seat of the Nellimoodu Mar Ivanios School bus. Jisna became a driver by driving her own tipper. Srikutty is used to driving 14-wheeler lorry. Sheena has been fond of driving since childhood and got her heavy license when her husband bought a tipper. All four women are undergoing training to become KSRTC Swift bus drivers by the Malayalam month of Chigam.

'We are ready and it's thrilling" - said the women drivers during the training. The training is at the Attakulangara Staff Training Centre. The authorities are trying to train these people who already have a heavy driving license to become better drivers.

VP Sheela, a driver at the Kothamangalam depot, who provides training, is the role model for the four lady drivers. Sheela is a native of Kothamangalam Kotappadi. Now the training is done in diesel bus. Training will be given in electric bus after a few more days. V Vinod Kumar, principal of the training college, said that since there is no gear and the vehicle is small, it is hoped that they will be able to master driving the e-bus in a single day.
The management decided to provide opportunities for more women drivers after seeing Sheela's ability to easily transport any bus driven by male drivers on any busy route.

Out of 112 applications, 27 people were called for the test. 11 passed. Out of that, four people are being trained now.

“I became a driver because of my passion for driving. Everyone looked at me curiously. Women have the opportunity to advance in all fields."

- VP Sheela, trainer