Intl. Women's Day: Meet Nandini Chakroborty, the proud owner of school bus fleet in Hazaribagh

Chakraborty, who has an MA degree in Sanskrit, had joined a private school in 1998 as a teacher. Unable to manage the household with a meagre income, she started to drive a school van for income. She is now the proud owner of a fleet of school buses and she refused to bog down when she has to choose a non-conventional profession.

Hazaribagh (Jharkhand): When she realized that her college degree and conventional jobs meant for women are not helping, Nandini Chakraborty, a college topper and teacher from here, decided to take up a not so conventional path which changed her life for good.

Chakraborty, who has an MA degree in Sanskrit, had joined a private school in 1998 as a teacher. With a meagre income, Nandini said that it was difficult to run a household and provide proper education to her two children and those reasons encouraged her to chose a different path when she decided to become a driver.

"I did my masters in Sanskrit from Vinoba Bhave University and joined a private school as a teacher. My husband, who is an announcer at a radio station, could not able to earn a livelihood that could provide even basic facilities to the family. At that time, he (Husband) encouraged me to drive a school van. Since I am good at driving, I agreed with his suggestion. I sold my ornaments and purchased a van in 2004. Since then, I have been driving a school van", said Chakraborty to ETV Bharat.

Nandini, who started her driving journey with a school van, now owns 8 school buses and a four-wheeler.

Narrating her tough days, Nandini said that she had to face a lot of hurdles such as social and financial issues but she never took a step back.

"When I started driving, locals used to stand in front of my van and tried to abuse me. I had not given single heed to them and continued my work professionally. Now, I am driving a school bus for D.A.V Public School nearly 50 km a day", added this 40-year-old woman bus driver cum transport owner.

While speaking to ETV Bharat, Manik Chakraborty, husband of Nandini, said that he feels proud when actor Amir Khan gave her an award for choosing an unconventional career.

Besides driving, she also teaches poor and deprived children for free. She also provides school dresses and basic equipment necessary for education.