She Learned to Drive an Auto to Support Her Family — Now She Teaches Other Women for Free

“Watching my mother work endlessly for a salary that could barely sustain us, I realised very early that I would have to carve a different path for myself. I did not want my children to grow up the way I did.” Jancy B V’s voice carries the weight of lived experience, the kind that speaks of struggle, stamina, and a will to rise above circumstances.

In Bengaluru, amid the rush of traffic and the hum of city life, she charts a path not just through the streets but through life itself. At 33, she is an auto driver, a mother, and a mentor. Her auto is a vessel of renewal, carrying her own dreams and those of the many women she now empowers.

Bannerghatta childhood: Lessons in strength and sacrifice

Her early years unfolded in Bannerghatta, a suburb of Bengaluru, where life was fraught with challenges. Her father battled alcoholism and passed away when she was just 12, leaving her mother as the sole provider. Overnight, the responsibility of the household fell entirely on her mother’s shoulders.

“After my father passed away, everything changed. My mother had to take care of us alone, and it was not easy for her at all,” she tells The Better India.

Her mother’s life was defined by unceasing labour. Having lost her own mother as a child, she had spent her years working as a domestic helper and in construction, earning barely Rs 5,000 a month. While her mother toiled, Jancy stayed with her aunt, learning lessons of independence and perseverance at an early age.

“Seeing her struggle every day stayed with me and made me want to become independent,” she says.

She attended school in Begur and completed her Class 10, but financial constraints meant she could not continue further. By 2008, at the age of 16, she entered the workforce to support her family.

From tailor to tea stall: The early years of hard work

Her first job was in a garment factory as a tailor, sewing zippers onto trousers under strict supervision and deadlines. The work was monotonous and high-pressure, but it taught her discipline and the value of determination.

“There was always pressure in the factory. You had to keep working without stopping, and there was no freedom, but I had no other choice,” she says.

After several years, she and her husband, whom she had married in 2011, tried their hand at a tea stall. The venture offered flexibility but also brought its own challenges. The stall’s location made daily tasks physically demanding, and income was uncertain. However, it was during this period, around 2016, that an unexpected suggestion from her husband would change her life.

A simple suggestion that changed everything

“He told me that I should learn to drive an auto so I could help with errands and take our children to school. At that time, I never imagined it would become my career,” she recalls.

Her husband guided her patiently through the process, teaching her how to manoeuvre the auto during the quieter hours of the tea stall business. At first, Jancy was nervous, unsure of her abilities.

“I was nervous, as I did not think I could do it, but my husband kept encouraging me, and slowly I started learning,” she says. When the tea stall business began to decline, her husband encouraged her to try taking professional rides. Hesitant at first, she stepped into the world of paid driving.

“On my first day, I earned Rs 700. That gave me so much confidence. I realised that I could actually do this and earn on my own,” she says.

In 2018, she obtained a commercial driving licence and joined Uber. However, her initial work remained close to home. “It started with my own children. Then slowly, other parents asked me to take their children as well. That is how I began doing regular school pick-ups and drop-offs,” she explains.

Finding freedom on the roads of Bengaluru

Learning to navigate Bengaluru’s chaotic roads was challenging. With unfamiliar routes, unpredictable traffic, and a city that felt vast and overwhelming, every journey felt like a challenge at first.

“In the beginning, I did not know many routes. I would stop and ask people for directions. That is how I learnt the city,” she says.

With experience, driving became more than a means of livelihood; it became a symbol of freedom. After years of rigid factory schedules, she finally controlled her own time, her own work, and her own earnings.

“Having spent years in the factory where every moment was dictated, and nothing was my own, this work has given me freedom. I can choose when to start my day, when to pause for my family, and I no longer fear losing my livelihood,” she reflects.

Balancing motherhood, family, and work

Jancy’s days are a careful orchestration of responsibility and dedication. She wakes at 5:00 am to prepare breakfast and pack tiffins for her children, making sure they are ready for school. By 7:00-7:30 am, her husband drops the children off, and she completes household chores before starting her driving shift around 10:00 am.

Her afternoon is devoted to school pick-ups, and by 5:00 pm, she is back home, attending to family life. Though she often works 10 to 12 hours a day, she maintains a balance that allows her to be both a provider and a mother. “No matter how busy I am, my children always come first,” she says.

A turning point: Mentoring women in Bengaluru

In 2021, her journey took a new turn when she was invited to an event at the Indiranagar Regional Transport Office. It was here she recognised a gap; many women wanted to work but lacked guidance or opportunity.

“I realised that many women did not have the support or opportunity to start something on their own. That made me think about what I could do to help,” she says.

Since then, she has trained approximately 40 to 50 women in Bengaluru, offering free driving lessons. Her aim is not financial gain, but independence for these women, many of whom were previously confined to household work or low-paying jobs.

“I did not want anything from them. I just wanted them to learn and stand on their own feet,” she explains.

Turning the wheel of change

Manjula (32), who has known her since school, credits her for inspiring her independence. “Seeing Jancy drive her auto really inspired me. Watching her be independent made me feel that I could do it too,” she says. 

“She let me practise in her auto and taught me everything, including the routes across Bengaluru. I find myself laughing more these days because I feel confident and independent. Financially, too, it has made a difference for my family,” she adds.

For Mahalaxmi (31), the appeal was flexibility. “Earlier, I worked jobs with fixed timings and very little flexibility. Driving an auto gave me more control over my time and helped me earn better,” she says.

Nethra, who previously worked as a domestic helper, emphasises the dignity driving has brought her. “The work I was doing earlier was physically demanding and had very little income. Seeing Jancy drive made me realise this could be a better opportunity. She also taught me how to stay safe and handle different situations on the road. That encouragement made a big difference,” she says.

A vision of empowerment

Jancy measures success not by her earnings but by the change she has inspired.

“When I see them driving and earning, I feel proud. They are standing on their own feet now,” she says.

Even as she continues to work full-time, her focus remains on expanding her mentoring. Her children’s education remains a priority; she is proud to send them to a good English-medium school, something she herself could not access.

“There are still many women who need support. I want to continue helping them and reach as many as I can,” she says.

In a city that never slows down, Jancy moves purposefully and with determination. “If I could change my life, I believe other women can too. They just need a chance and someone to guide them,” she says.

All pictures courtesy Jancy B V.

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