Empowering women

Bharti Vagha has taken to the wheels literally to breach the glass ceiling and serve as an inspiration in Okhamandal

Ms Vagha is the first woman in Okhamandal taluka to drive a bus

Facilitating change and transformation through the empowerment of women is a key initiative of the Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development (TCSRD). At Tata Chemicals’ Mithapur plant site in Gujarat’s Okhamandal taluka, women are being trained to operate forklifts, buses, etc. to break gender stereotypes and become financially independent.

Bharti Vagha (20) is a shining example of the programme’s success. The training provided by the TCSRD has helped Ms Vagha to become the first woman in Okhamandal taluka to drive a bus.

The 20-year-old is part of TCSRD’s World On Wheels (WOW) initiative. For the past 15 months, she has been driving a 20-seater computer-equipped and IT-enabled vehicle to schools and colleges around the taluka to impart computer and science classes for students and young adults.

“I take this bus to village schools to educate the children, which has increased my confidence and inspires other girls too. I am also learning computer skills on this HP WOW Bus,” Ms Vagha says with happiness and pride.

Through her success, Ms Vagha is also inspiring other young girls to take up unconventional jobs and make their parents and community proud. The steady job has made Ms Vagha financially independent and self-fund her graduation.