Oh my gosh, you guys, have you heard about Raji Ashok Free Rides? There’s this amazing lady in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, named Raji Ashok, and she’s like the coolest auto-rickshaw driver ever! She’s 50 years old and has been driving her auto for 23 years, but what makes her super special is that she gives free rides to women, elderly people, and girl students after 10 p.m. How awesome is that? She even takes people to the hospital for free if it’s an emergency! I saw her story online, and it totally made my day.
Raji’s from Kerala and moved to Chennai with her husband, who’s also an auto driver. She’s got a college degree in Philosophy, which is so cool, but she couldn’t find a job when she came to Chennai. That must’ve been really tough, right? So, she decided to drive an auto to help her family. Imagine being a woman driving an auto 23 years ago when it was mostly guys doing it! She’s like a superhero breaking all the rules. She faced a lot of challenges, like people not taking her seriously at first, but she kept going.
What I love most is how Raji cares about making women feel safe. She never says no to a woman who needs a ride, even if it’s super late. She just asks for an hour’s notice so she can plan her trips. Her auto has a toll-free number on it, so anyone can call her. She’s helped over 10,000 women travel safely, which is like, whoa, a huge number! She also gives out water, biscuits, and even sanitary napkins to people who need them. That’s so kind
Raji doesn’t just stop at free rides. She teaches women how to drive autos for free! She says lots of women work as maids for super low pay, but driving an auto can earn them 15,000 to 20,000 rupees a month. That’s a big deal! She wants women to be strong and independent, and I think that’s the best thing ever. She even teaches them in her own auto without charging for gas. I bet those women feel so happy learning from her.
Her story’s all over the internet, and people are calling her “Auto Akka,” which means “big sister” in Tamil. Everyone’s saying she’s a hero, and I totally agree! One person on X even said she’s doing stuff most people can’t even dream of. I think it’s sad that not everyone knows about her because she’s not super famous, but her heart is pure gold. She’s been through tough times, like moving to Chennai after scary bomb blasts in Coimbatore in 1998, but she never let that stop her.
Reading about Raji Ashok Free Rides makes me want to be kinder and braver, you know? She’s out there every day, driving around Chennai, making sure women and old people feel safe. I bet it’s tiring, but she keeps smiling and helping. I hope more people hear about her and maybe even help her out, like donating to her grocery drives for poor families. She gave food to 300 families during COVID—that’s amazingSo, what do you think about Raji Akka? Isn’t she the coolest? Her story shows that you don’t need to be rich or famous to make a difference. I’m gonna tell all my friends about her and maybe try to be a little more like her—helping people whenever I can. Let’s cheer for Raji Ashok Free Rides and all the awesome women like her!