M Sharmila, a young lady of 24 years old, has accomplished an exceptional feat in Coimbatore by becoming the very first female bus conductor in the city. Presently, she’s plying her trade on the Coimbatore Gandhipuram to Somanur route, and her extraordinary abilities behind the wheels have drawn a lot of public attention. Sharmila’s success is concrete evidence that women aren’t inferior to men, and that they have the ability to achieve anything they set their minds to. M Sharmila hails from Thiruvalluvar Nagar in Vadavalli.
Pedestrians frequently halt for a moment to applaud Sharmila on her achievements, and groups of people flock to the Gandhipuram bus terminal to take pictures with her. In a recent development, Srinisubramanian, a journalist with ETV Bharat, had the opportunity to conduct an interview with Sharmila in person. She spoke energetically about her journey and how her father, who is an auto-rickshaw driver, motivated her to pursue her dream. For several years, Sharmila drove an LPG auto with her father’s help.
He played a vital role in aiding her in obtaining the necessary training and licenses to operate heavy-duty vehicles. Sharmila is dedicated to leaving a lasting impression in the male-dominated field of heavy vehicle driving. Her love for driving emerged during her seventh-grade year, and she’s been hooked ever since.
“I got interested in driving when I was in seventh grade. Even at home, if you say do whatever you want, then the dream gets a green signal,” Sharmila stated, adding, “Many people in society look down on drivers, but I became interested in the work that everyone saw less of.” The young bus driver is thankful for the support she’s received from her family, especially her father. Sharmila has been operating an auto-rickshaw in Coimbatore since 2019 and now proudly holds the title of the city’s first female bus driver.
Despite society’s negative attitudes toward drivers, Sharmila pursued her dream and completed her driving training. Instead of waiting for a government job, she seized the opportunity presented by a private firm named VV Transport. Sharmila is a shining example to other women, and she firmly believes that nothing is impossible if one sets their mind to it.
A college student who rode on the bus driven by Sharmila was taken aback to see a young woman behind the wheel. Sharmila is demolishing barriers and motivating others to follow in her footsteps. She encourages other women to approach her without hesitation if they require assistance while traveling on the bus.
(This story first appeared in ETV Bharat/Courtesy Maintained )
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