Meet Pooja Devi Jammu & Kashmir first Lady Bus Driver

"Determination in the path of prosperity is the only clear way to achieve the goal"

If women can fly fighter aircraft then they can also drive buses. Here is the story of the first lady bus driver of Jammu & Kashmir.

If there is strong courage in the mind, then the journey may be difficult, but the destination is reached. Pooja Devi, choosing her journey and reaching her destination, has become a role model for women.

Breaking all stereotypes, Pooja Devi of Kathua district has become the first woman bus driver in Jammu and Kashmir. Pooja Devi, a mother of three, on Thursday 24 December 2020, took over bus steering between Jammu and Kathua for the first time. During this, her 7-year-old son was also with her on the bus. Pooja Devi took up this profession in spite of adverse treatment from her family and is now an admired figure on social media.

But her journey was not that easy. Today everyone is getting this message from her story that women are not behind in any field. Driving a heavy vehicle was her dream since childhood. She used to see herself driving a bus or a truck in her dreams. After a lot of struggle, today she has reached the destination where she wanted to reach.

Pooja Devi is the daughter of a farmer. Her financial condition was not very good. Being from a poor family, she could not read and write. But always wanted to fulfill her dream of driving a big car. Pooja Devi is a resident of Sandhar-Basohani village in the Kathua district. They have three children one daughter and two sons. Her daughter is a student in class 10th. The Elder son studies in the 7th class and the younger son in the second class.

Her family and in-laws were against her decision to become a driver. Initially, her husband, who is also a laborer, did not want her to become a driver as she did not consider this profession good and safe for women. But Pooja Devi convinced her by saying that driving is her dream which she wants to fulfill at any cost.

First, she learned to drive a car. In the beginning, she had a lot of trouble. Most of the vehicle owners used to refuse to teach by saying that if they hit someone with their car and get injured or die, then there will be trouble for them. 

But somehow she learned to drive. And got her Driving License made. After that, she became a driving instructor in a reputed driving institute where she used to get 10 thousand rupees. She also used to drive taxis. Then she also learned to drive heavy vehicles. She learned about truck driving from her maternal uncle Rajinder Singh. Later she applied for a driving license to drive a heavy vehicle.

When she got the license to drive a heavy vehicle, she approached the bus union. Kuldeep Singh, President of Jammu-Kathua Road Bus Station, accepted her application and, showing confidence in her driving, entrusted her with the responsibility of driving a passenger bus between Jammu-Kathua.

Pooja Devi has not only fulfilled her dream but is also helping to improve the economic condition of her family.

Where drivers don't think their children should become drivers like them, Pooja Devi broke all the taboos by becoming a passenger bus driver that only men can drive passenger buses. When women can fly fighter planes, drive express trains, and become doctors, and police officers. Then why can't she become a professional driver?

People greeted Pooja Devi at the bus stop. She is getting the support of other drivers and the love of the people.

Pooja Devi is an inspiration to all the women out there who want to fulfill their dreams but are unable to do so due to family pressure.