Appreciating honest auto drivers

They are churlish, sometimes downright rude, devious when they take the long way home, and often dishonest. There are truly not too many stories we hear about auto drivers who spread sweetness and light! The Auto Anna Initiative, launched by the Lions Club and the Lioness Club of Meenambakkam on Sunday, is perhaps an attempt to set aside such prejudices and correct misconceptions. Around 16 auto drivers were felicitated for their social service on the occasion. 

The Auto Anna Welfare Trust also launched an appreciation line. A customer, happy with the service, should text <Auto Anna> <Vehicle number> and send the message to 92430 00111. “The vote gets registered and drivers with the most number of votes will be awarded every month,” said Anil Khicha, a CA by profession, who conceptualized the initiative. “Everybody complains about the auto drivers in the city. But there are many who do their job honestly. This appreciation line will encourage many of them to follow the rules.” 

Citizens may not be aware of the lives of those sitting in the driver’s seat – and that many have overcome hardship to get there. People dare not mess with 45-year-old Lima Rose Prabha, for instance. The first female auto driver from Trichy, also known as ‘Tiger Prabha’, read an article about her ilk in Chennai and wanted to set an example. “I was a fish vendor and my husband used to drive an auto. I learnt to drive from him and started operating the vehicle from the railway station,” says Prabha. She has faced ridicule and jibes, but gives it right back if she finds the provocation insupportable. 

She has done well, equipping herself to be a bread winner. There are others too who put in an honest day’s work. Manishwaran, who operates from Koyambedu, on one occasion last year, found that a customer had left behind a bag full of jewellery and other documents, including a cheque book. “There was no other identity proof. I took the cheque book to the bank and traced the account holder’s identity,” he says. He then dropped off the bag at the owner’s house. 

There are others who are rather more flamboyant in approach. Share-auto driver Annadurai, brand ambassador for the Auto Anna Initiative, is no less than a celebrity. He has given a TED talk in Delhi and is set to give another in March in Chennai. His auto is stocked with magazines and newspapers, equipped with a TV, free WiFi, a mobile charging point and now an iPad pro. He also has a swiping machine for card payments. “I believe in the simple concept Atithi Devo Bhava,” he says. Customer satisfaction is my priority and I make sure that their needs are met.” Tech savvy Annadurai is now waiting for the launch of his app, using which customers can track where he is.