This International Women’s Day celebrated on Tuesday will always remain special for P.G. Deepamol of Kerala. The reason being she started her new job as an ambulance driver.

Driving one of the KANIV-108 ambulances makes this resident of Kottayam break another glass ceiling by becoming the first woman driver to take the wheels in the Health Department’s ambulance service.

She also becomes one of the few women to drive the traveller-type ambulance.

Besides her love and passion for driving, it is her innate determination to help people in distress that made her become an ambulance driver at the age of 42. The officials of the KANIV 108 ambulance service tested her driving skills and ability to remain calm when facing emergency situations to include her in the final list from three women applicants.

Talking to the media, Deepamol said: “Women shouldn’t confine themselves to the kitchen, rather come to the forefront by using the skills they have. We should have the will to take up any job to gain financial independence.” It was in 2008 that Deepamol received her light motor vehicle licence and the following year she got the heavy vehicle licence. She took up driving as a profession when her husband Mohanan fell sick to support her family

She has also worked as a driving school instructor and driven taxi and lorry. In 2021, she completed a solo bike ride from Kottayam to Ladakh in 16 days.

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