For many, it is an inspiration to see women break gender stereotypes to propel their own growth and well-being. Seema Devi, a housewife in Jammu defied gender stereotypes by becoming the first woman to operate an e-rickshaw in militancy-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir. For the past four months, the mother of three teenagers has been operating the e-rickshaw through the roads of Nagrota and its surrounding areas. 

Speaking to The New Indian Express, Seema Devi said that she took up this job as her husband’s earnings were insufficient. She wanted to support her husband so that they could provide a good living for their family and a better education for their children. 

Looking quite young for her age, Seema who is in her mid-40s has a 15-year-old son and two daughters aged 14 years and 12 years. She and her husband could secure a loan of Rs 30,000 with which they purchased the e-rickshaw on a monthly EMI of Rs 3,000. It was her husband who taught her to learn to drive and she picked up this skill very fast. 

What motivated her was the fact that women were piloting trains and planes, so why not an e-rickshaw? She would admire women working in different fields and continued to be inspired them. She also was wholeheartedly supported by her husband who helped her in many ways. 

It's been around four months since she has been driving the e-rickshaw and has mastered the art very well. Women feel safe in her rickshaw and many parents trust her to drop their girl students at school. Seema Devi’s story is a guiding light that will go a long way to emancipate women in all fields of life.