- Sandhya Rani Majhi, 45 years old, becomes Odisha's first lady government car driver
- Sandhya's experience points towards her determination and courage to bridge gender gaps
- The authorities appreciated the action as a forward step towards gender inclusion in public services
In a bold step towards Odisha women's empowerment, 45-year-old Mayurbhanj district Sandhya Rani Majhi has made history by becoming the state's first-ever female government vehicle driver. A Suleipat village dweller, Sandhya's story is one of grit and determination. "I had been interested in cars and driving as a child—it has been my dream," she described.
She had nurtured her interest in motorcycle driving and later graduated to driving automobiles. She is an education graduate who married a driver, Kumar of Jashipur in the same district, and later turned into a taxi driver. She acquired her Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) license in 2011 and graduated with a Heavy Motor Vehicle (HMV) license in 2023 after a training stint at the Chhatia Driving Training Centre in Jajpur district, under the State Transport Authority.
Although she was forced to work for a while at a beauty parlor in Bhubaneswar due to family obligations, Sandhya never gave up. Opportunity knocked at the door when the training center contacted her in connection with a government driver's job. She seized the opportunity and officially began fulfilling her duties on June 25, driving the official vehicle of Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary of the Commerce and Transport Department.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, also responsible for the Department of Women and Child Development, congratulated Sandhya as historic for women in the state. "My hearty congratulations to Sandhya Rani Majhi, Odisha's first woman government driver. The Transport Department's move is commendable—a new chapter in empowering women has begun," she posted on X.
Government authorities have emphasized that Sandhya's appointment is a gender inclusiveness milestone for the public sector. Her achievement was a source of inspiration in inducting more women to jobs traditionally occupied by men. Initiatives such as the Women Suvahak programme empowering women drivers are also an indication of the state government's initiative towards road safety and gender inclusivity in the transport sector.
