Impact Stories
Kajal’s quest to break the glass ceiling
Where there is a will, there is a way clearly stands for Kajal. She has faced many adversities at a very young age. From husband abandoning her to no support from loved ones in her tough times, she could have easily preferred to remain sad, complain and cry for help. Instead, she decided to take charge of her life.
Rajani Rajput (fondly called Kajal) works as a cab driver. With an aim set in her eyes to join Gujarat Police Force, she will soon enrol herself in National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to appear for Class 10 exams. Kajal stays with her parents along with her nine year old daughter. Her daughter studies in a government school. Kajal, now 31 got married in 2007 to a truck driver who would go away for long periods of time and not inform her. She would constantly feel abandoned and uncomfortable around her husband when he would come back. Meanwhile, Kajal gave a birth to a daughter in 2011. Her husband wasn't happy with having a girl child coming from a highly patriarchal family. Thus, he decided to leave her and the child.
A distraught Kajal was determined to work and run the house but she needed financial support. Her education was only till Class 9, so, it was difficult for her to get a job. With no option, she started working as a househelp in Godrej Garden City. This brought in a paltry income of Rs 5,000 per month. She worked as help for five years. She says, "The house where I used to work were involved in a business activity and many customers used to visit the house. One of the customers associated with a company asked me about my aspirations and desire to work. Initially, they advised me to open a food venture but it needed a lot of investment and had a scope for zero profit on initial basis. So, they asked me how comfortable I might be in driving a cab and I jumped with joy over the idea. It is a symbol of gender equality and I can break the glass ceiling."
So in 2020, she enrolled in learning driving through Infoanalytica Foundation under a program run by the nonprofit Janvikas called “Driverben”. There, she took training for a year. Then the foundation sponsored the process for her to get a four-wheeler license. After getting the license, she then got a job driving with a company that has women drivers. Working 12 hours a day, she gets a salary of Rs 18,000 per month. With a cab driving job, she wears a smile on her face always irrespective of the customers being nice or rude to her. She states life is not easy, full of challenges and one has to strive hard. Bygones are bygones for her. She is looking forward to the life. Kajal strongly feels life can begin at any age, and time. She further adds, "My both parents are senior citizens. My father works as a security guard and earns Rs 8,000 per month. He too has issues with having a daughter like my husband. But my mother and daughter are my pillars of support. They always motivate and stand by me."
Her daughter, Kritika, gives her strength stating this won't last forever. Once she grows up, she will support her financially. Kajal doesn't want to stop with a cab driving job only. Kajal aims big. She wants to be a part of Gujarat Police system where she can do some concrete work for women. For this purpose, she is studying for Class 10 to pass the basic exams. She is determined she will study despite the time constraints. At one point, she lost faith in God but now, wants his support in all her future endeavours. At times, she has to go out to pick up a customer around 3am but she does it fearlessly knowing she can rely on God. The foundation is grateful to have had the opportunity to support a braveheart like her.
