DHARWAD: IN quietly traditional Dharwad, a women’s brigade is washing away gender barriers. Padmaja Patil and her all-women crew manage a car washing service in the city. In what is essentially perceived as a man’s job, this group of nine women has been showing that auto servicing is not gender exclusive.
Padmaja took the bold decision to be independent over 15 years ago after some personal problems. She left her home in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, and came to Dharwad in search of a job. It was not an easy journey, she recalls.
“I first joined a private car showroom in 1999 and worked for a couple of years. I also worked with two other showrooms before opening the car washing centre in 2011,” she says, adding Sai Auto Leads is now a known establishment in the city only because of the hard work and support of her women staffers.
“When I set up the centre, I had employed seven youths. But male ego cropped up, disrupting work. So I decided to employ only women at the centre,” says Padmaja. She has eight women working under her. She is happy she is able to do her bit for women’s empowerment. “All the women workers at the servicing centre are either widows or come from poor social background,” she adds.
The initial days were not easy. There was no support from family or relatives. “Relatives said this is a roadside business. There was no moral or financial support from my kin. I sold my small car to invest in the service station,” she recalls. Also Padmaja had no experience of handling a business. However, her work experience in different vehicle showrooms helped her. “I had the urge to work with passion and dedication. It may be seen as a man’s job but I don’t feel so. I just love doing this,” she says.
Geeta Sommanavar, an employee, seconds her: “Initially I hesitated to work here thinking women can’t do it. But Padmaja encouraged me and I decided to take a chance. Now we are all experts and happy doing this job. We are also taking driving classes so that cars can be picked up and dropped for servicing.”
There have been times when a few customers have advised the women to give up this profession and look for other jobs. “But we haven’t been demotivated by all that,” she adds.
On a regular day the service centre is open between 9 am and 7 pm. During rush days, it opens as early as 6.30am.