. Makhmali Waiba of Mahankal Rural Municipality-4 in Lalitpur district was unable to think of how to make a living after her husband’s death. She had even made a passport with the only option to go for foreign employment.
In the meantime, she got an opportunity to participate in an auto driver training organized by the rural municipality.
“After the training, I hoped that something could be done in the village,” she said. Now, Waiba has started driving an auto in the village with an auto driver’s license. Makhmali has been earning between three thousand to five thousand rupees a day by driving an auto in the village. This has not only made it easier for him to make a living but has also boosted his confidence.
Anita Bal of Ward No. 3 of the same rural municipality was also thinking about how she could earn a living by stepping out of the kitchen.
Like Velvet, his auto driver training gave him a new opportunity. Now she feels self-employed by driving an auto. She said, “When I started earning myself, my self-esteem also increased. ‘
In the beginning, women faced both surprise and criticism for driving.
But now the situation is changing and passengers have started taking the service easily, he said.
The rural municipality has been implementing various programmes to create employment opportunities in agriculture, tourism and other sectors.
It has been conducting various skill-oriented training with the objective of reducing the outflow of population from the rural municipality and creating employment at the local level. According to Dolma Maya Gole, vice-chairperson of the municipality, the training has changed the lives of unemployed women like Makhmali and Anita.
A total of 22 housewives had participated in the training conducted with the support of the Ministry of Social Development of Bagmati Province in the previous fiscal year 2081/082, out of which 15 have obtained driving licenses.
Two of them are in the auto business.
According to Gole, some of the participants had left the training midway.
The remaining 13 are trying to join the business. The rural municipality has provided financial assistance of Rs 2.25 lakh to two people who have obtained driving license to start the auto business. This has made it easier for them to run the business.
The rural municipality is also trying to provide grants to 13 others.
“It has not only created employment but also facilitated transportation services at the local level,” said Gole.
Ward No. The fare rate has also been fixed for the auto service operating from 1 to 6. Although the journey is challenging due to some unpaved roads, the service is expanding. Mahankal Rural Municipality has been trying to make women self-reliant by conducting training on pickle making, tailoring and mushroom farming along with auto driving.
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