Kudumbashree - Steering wheels - Success Story of Amal Driving School

The challenges that Smt. Sheena Salim, hailing from Punalur of Kollam district of Kerala in her life was enormous. She couldn’t get enough education as she wished for and couldn’t even lead a happy life with her husband and her kids. All she had in her life was financial crisis and challenges.  But now, all that have changed and became history. Her daughter is studying for MBBS and her son is pursuing his graduation studies. Now Sheena is living a happier life along with her mother in law in her own at Karakkad, Punalur. Her own venture ‘Amal Driving School’ made her capable of all these.

Evolution of Amal Driving School

Sheena got married to Salim, who was working in a gulf country during 1994. When they got two kids, Sheena found it difficult to survive with the money, her husband used to send from abroad. And during then, she started a chitty of her own, and even tried slaughter tapping of rubber and found additional income of her own. During that work, she had learned to drive two wheelers, which had later become a turning point in her life.  Her husband later died of some disease in 2014, and their life changed altogether. She then thought of making livelihood out of the skill that she knew. And later, she started her venture, ‘Amal Driving School’. Sheena had been the Secretary of Pavithram Neighbourhood Group of Karakkad ward of Punalur. And so, Kudumbashree Mission extended full support for her venture. Financial assistance of Rs 2 lakhs was received from Kudumbashree Mission.

The venture was registered during 2015 and after that she never had to look back. Kudumbashree Mission entrusted Sheena for extending training to women for the She-Taxi and She-Auto programmes. More than 500 students had passed out from Amal Driving School. Kudumbashree had also given Rs 35,000 as innovation fund. Amal Driving School now has 3 cars, 2 two wheelers and 1 auto rickshaw of their own. All papers regarding the driving license can be settled at Amal Driving School.

A usual working day of Sheena starts off at 6 AM and end only by 7 PM or 8 PM. Sheena has three staffs including two women in her driving school to help her. After deducting all the expenses, Rs 50,000 earned by her from the driving school.  Sheena also possess heavy driving license as well.

As per the guidance from the Regional Transport Office, she had also completed her training at Driver Training and Research Institute, Malappuram. Sheena is now extending training on how to secure driving license in gulf countries. Sheena dreams of extending training for getting international license and give training to women and make them capable of running her venture to more success. She had even secured a job through Employment Exchange. She is confident that she would be able to manage both her venture and her job hand in hand.

Sheena is an example of how much heights a woman can achieve if she believes in herself and act confidently. The life story of Sheena would be indeed an inspiration of as many women who aspire of becoming successful in their lives.