Kolkata Woman Becomes First Pink Cab Driver After Adversity

Manasi Mridha has become a well-known figure in Kolkata, having navigated a life defined by both hardship and significant personal achievement. Originally from Chinsurah, Hooghly, she dealt with poverty and abandonment by her father before facing the early challenges of marriage and widowhood. Her transition into becoming the city's first pink cab driver was driven by a resolve she first saw in her mother. After the family was left on their own, her mother worked constantly to provide for them, instilling in Manasi a work ethic that would eventually help her reshape her own future.

These early years were particularly difficult. After her father walked out, her mother was left to care for Manasi and a younger sister who was diagnosed with thalassemia shortly after birth. Education was another hurdle; her father had initially forbidden her from attending school, and it was only through her grandfather’s intervention that she was able to study. Life changed again at 16 when she married and moved to Barasat. However, the untimely death of her husband left her as a single mother. Rejected by both her in-laws and her own father, she was forced to take on various jobs to support her infant son.

A significant shift occurred when she encountered the Azad Foundation, an organization focused on helping women secure livelihoods with dignity. Through their programs, Manasi learned to drive, eventually finding work as a private chauffeur and teaching other women the same skill. Her path was further supported by Sakha Consulting Wings, a sister organization to the foundation, which encouraged her to take her driving career further. These connections provided the professional framework she needed to move beyond temporary labor.

In February 2019, the West Bengal government introduced the pink cab initiative under the Gatidhara scheme, designed to create opportunities for female drivers. Manasi applied for the program and was selected as the first pink cab driver in Kolkata. It was a milestone marked by a public ceremony where the Chief Minister flagged off her vehicle. For Manasi, the moment represented a personal victory and a practical step toward a more stable life, while also setting a precedent for other women in her community.

Today, Manasi continues to drive her pink cab, representing the possibilities that open up when individual effort is met with the right support systems. Her journey from Chinsurah to the streets of Kolkata highlights how initiatives focused on financial independence can help women move past societal constraints. By achieving self-reliance, she has established a new path for herself and others facing similar barriers, demonstrating the practical impact of programs that offer women the tools to change their own circumstances.