Pooja Devi has shattered the glass ceiling by becoming the first-ever female bus driver in Jammu and Kashmir. She had to put up and arduous struggl to become a bus driver as she faced a lot of resistance from her family and society in realising her dream. The woman, who is in her thirties said that she learned truck driving from her maternal uncle Rajinder Singh.
Being the mother of three children, Pooja Devi ferried passengers on Jammu-Kathua route for the first time on Thursday (December 24). “I always wanted to become a bus or truck driver. I used to see myself driving heavy vehicles in my dreams. I belong to a very poor family. My father was a farmer. My family wasn’t able to educate me but I decided to take up driving as a career,” said Pooja Devi while speaking to India Today TV.
While narrating her struggle, she said that it was not an easy task to become a bus driver. She had to face many hurdles including opposition from her family and husband. “My husband was initially against my decision to become a driver. He told me that driving is not a good profession for women. But I told him that I want to pursue my dreams,” she said.
She was accompanied by her younger son as she drove through the Kathua route. Several top politicians, including Union Minister Jitendra Singh, shared her picture on Twitter and wrote, “Proud to have from district Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, the first woman bus driver Pooja Devi”.
Proud to have from district #Kathua, #JammuAndKashmir, the first women bus driver Pooja Devi. pic.twitter.com/7wTMa272kC
— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) December 25, 2020