Telangana Police launches Stree Ride, women earn livelihood driving two- and three-wheelers

Published 6 June 2026 · local

Five years ago, Sarla had never imagined herself weaving through Hyderabad’s streets on a two-wheeler, delivering packages and earning enough to support her family. A

Five years ago, Sarla had never imagined herself weaving through Hyderabad’s streets on a two-wheeler, delivering packages and earning enough to support her family. A housewife from Neredmet, she came across a Facebook seeking women interested in learning to ride and work in the mobility sector. Hesitant at first, she decided to take a chance. Today, she earns more than ₹40,000 a month as a delivery rider with a logistics company and says the transformation has been about far more than money. “I feel very proud of myself. I can financially support my family and my children. My children are proud of me too,” she said. Stree Ride launch Sarla is among dozens of women whose lives have been reshaped by training programmes that have enabled them to enter professions long dominated by men. On Saturday, their journeys took centre stage as the Telangana Women Safety Wing formally launched Stree Ride, an initiative aimed at training and employing women as drivers and riders in the transportation and mobility sector. The programme was launched at the State Police Headquarters in Lakdikapul, Hyderabad, where Telangana Director General of Police C.V. Anand flagged off 50 electric bikes and five electric autos that will be operated by women riders and drivers.

55 women trained under Phase I Under the first phase of Stree Ride, 55 women received driver training and employment support through partnerships with mobility service providers and aggregators. The programme aims to connect women with opportunities in passenger transportation, while also expanding into logistics, cargo and delivery services. Officials said the initiative is designed not only to create jobs but also to challenge stereotypes around women’s abilities, increase female participation in the workforce and encourage more women to pursue non-traditional careers. Women earn financial freedom Ameena, who has spent the past five years working as an auto driver, primarily in the delivery sector, said the profession had given her the freedom to shape her own life. “Most of the last five years have been very good. The job gave me financial freedom and the freedom to live life on my own terms,” she said. Initiative to address harassment Yet challenges remain. She recalled instances of rude behaviour and harassment from male passengers during rides. “We always felt if we could have a woman rider for women passengers provision, that would make us feel more comfortable,” she said, adding that the new initiative will address those concerns and allow her to take up more passenger rides alongside logistics work.