Sakha Consulting Wings Pvt Ltd: Fly and discover!

It is an undeniable sad fact that a series of shocking crimes against women have sealed Delhi’s reputation as an anti-women city. But Delhi’s women are certainly not those to lay down their hands.

In the light of women’s apprehensions of travelling in the city, what happens when a group of firm and determined women come together?

The result is Sakha Consulting Wings Pvt Ltd, a social enterprise endeavouring to provide safe transport solutions to women...by women!




Sakha Consulting Wings Pvt Ltd is the brain-child of Meenu Vadera, currently the director of the company. She says it is incredible how much the company has built the women;s confidence. “Our mandate is to work with under-priviledged women to help them make the transition from ‘I cannot’ to ‘I can’, she says. “We are doing two things with our service”, Sakha’s founder adds. “We are providing a livelihood with dignity for women...and we are providing a safe means of transport for women in the city.”

Chosen from the less-favoured and marginalised section of society, the drivers are put through a rigorous 6-month training programme, which includes a driving course by the Maruti Institute of driving and technology Research, self-defence training by the Delhi police’s Crime Against Women Cell as well as classes on learning English, developing communication skills, grooming, Delhi’s routes, women’s rights and training the would-be drivers to be familiar with the vehicle and it’s parts for its daily maintenance, map-reading and managing emergencies.

Sakha’s sister concern, Azad Foundation finds and trains women by tying up with NGOs that work in slums. They distribute pamphlets, put up posters, create awareness about Sakha’s existence through street plays and go door-to-door, looking for women who are above 18 and at least class 8^th pass and whose family income is Rs4000 or less.

Winner of the 1^st prize in the Business and Entrepreneurs category in 2011, Meenu Vadera explains, “Driving is just an excuse; what we really want to do is to break an image and provoke a change in the mindset towards women.”