MNS wants Marathi women as cabbies

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) women wing has put on offer a driving licence and a fleet taxi permit at Rs2000 for Mumbai’s women.

To empower Marathi women by giving them an opportunity to earn money via fleet taxi, the party has decided to give driving lessons to them and will also back them asking fleet taxi companies to grant permits to these women. The Mumbai District Bank, headed by MNS MLA Pravin Darekar, will provide instant loans to them to buy taxis, if needed.

“This project is only for women, who have studied till Std X. These women find it difficult to get a job due to lack of education. Also, it will be made sure that the woman is a Maharashtrian,” said Rita Gupta, vice-president of the party’s women wing.

Two months back, MNS chief Raj Thackeray had made it clear that the new taxi permits should be restricted to locals. The state plans to auction 4,000 permits to fleet taxi operators.

The party will make sure money flows in by asking agencies to put up advertisements on the cabs. “Even if the business is not good, they will get money through such advertisements. Also party unions will make sure that these women drivers are hired by various company vehicles, used in BPOs or other corporate offices,” said Gupta. She added that self-defence classes will be arranged for the women, as they will be driving late at night too.

The party has received around 1,000 applications from South Mumbai and Dadar, and around 800 from the western suburbs. The project is operational in South Mumbai. It will soon be activated elsewhere.