Pink autos for women driven by men in Chennai

THE state government's Pink Auto Scheme — launched with an eye on economically empowering women and enhancing the safety of woman passengers — seems to have at least partially failed in its objective, as many of these pink autos are now being driven by men.

- B ANBUSELVAN @ Chennai

Though the pink-coloured autos distributed under the scheme can be owned and driven only by women, this newspaper spotted them being driven by men in Ayanavaram, around Chennai Central railway station, Thiruvanmiyur, Royapettah, MMDA Arumbakkam and even near the Secretariat over the past week. At a couple of places, they were mainly used for transporting goods and not passengers, which is also against the permit issued by the Regional Transport Offices.