Meet Afiya Anees, The Youngest Woman To Attain Heavy Vehicle Licence
Malappuram, Kerala: At a time when free bus travel for women under the UDF government’s Priyadarshini Scheme is making headlines, 22-year-old Afiya Anees has created history, becoming the youngest woman to get a heavy vehicle licence from the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, (KSRTC).
Afiya, a resident of Ponnani in Malappuram district, completed a one-month training at the KSRTC Institute of Driving Training and Research in Ponnani. She was trained under mentor Mr Ramesh. Born in 2004, Afiya graduated from Asia Pacific University, Malaysia in IT specialised in Cloud Engineering, and she is now Pursuing a course in AI at IIT Roorkee.
Read Also: Meet Rathan U Kelkar: Kerala Chief Electoral Officer, Appointed As CM V D Satheesan’s Secretary
Speaking to Timeline, Afiya said she was motivated for heavy vehicle training by her uncle who attained heavy licence from KSRTC’s Institute of Driving Training and Research upon his passion. She said she wanted to use her time after college and before kick starting work “to learn something useful”. She has been driving two-wheelers and cars since she was young, so she joined the heavy vehicle training program, and got her licence at just 22, becoming the youngest woman to earn it. The minimum age for heavy vehicle license is 21.
Read Also: Meet S Keerthana: The Only Woman Minister In CM Vijay’s Tamil Nadu Cabinet
Meet Afiya Anees, The Youngest Woman To Attain Heavy Vehicle Licence
Arya Nanda, the first woman to get a heavy vehicle licence from KSRTC’s IDTR, inspired Afiya to enter the field. “Learning about Arya gave me the confidence to join KSRTC,” Afiya said. She also thanked her parents and sisters for supporting her wish to achieve heavy vehicle license, and her instructor Ramesh for his guidance.
KSRTC has been encouraging women to join its special driving programs to promote gender equality on roads. By earning her licence, Afiya broke stereotypes and entered a profession long dominated by men.
