The pink route to empowering women

These bright pink autos have become a familiar sight on Chennai roads. Driven by women and catering primarily to women and children, pink autos are on the rise thanks to various social organisations and a scheme promoted by the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department of the Tamil Nadu Government to fund women (partially, in most cases) to own and drive these vehicles.

The pink fleet ticks several boxes: women empowerment, women’s participation in the labour force, promoting a clean environment (CNG is used as fuel) and breaking gender stereotypes.