PickMe goes for women drivers

PickMe has taken the initiative to create job opportunities for women as taxi drivers. The company has recruited 12-15 women drivers who mostly drive mini cars or Sedans.

Lasanda Deepthi (33), a trishaw driver, is an exception. A mother with one school-going child said PickMe provides her an opportunity to make a living while multi-tasking as a mother and housewife.

"I have enough time to drop my daughter at school and take her to tuition classes; and I run hires during my spare time and make some money to make ends meet," said Deepthi.

While there is a stigma attached to women taxi drivers, particularly due to the fact that they are exposed to various situations and dangers when driving alone and picking up passengers, the PickMe system offers them a certain security which would help overcome this.

PickMe hopes to make a significant increase in the number of women drivers.

PickMe ensures a level of accountability for its drivers and passengers through a system where both parties are identifiable since their relevant profiles can be viewed by the PickMe Centre, or in the passenger's case, even by a family member through ETA sharing.

As for drivers, they pick up a passenger whose details are recorded in the system through their mobile phones. This creates a level of accountability, for the passenger and driver.

"Initially, I was worried about the security aspect in this job, but my fears were soon allayed when we went for the PickMe training program. The PickMe app has a source button which can be used during an emergency to get help from the nearest police station or the despatch centre," she said.

The eight hours she has to work as a PickMe driver, does not have a specific timeframe, so she chooses the time when she wishes to come online.

This gives her the opportunity to attend to her daughter's needs. Being an enterprising woman, she also makes women's shoes.

Another advantage which PickMe offers, she said is the rating system which recognises a driver's efforts. The app has a feature that allows passengers to indicate their response to the service the driver provides by rating them by stars.