From Ambassador driver to KSRTC pioneer, Sheela leads Priyadarshini’s historic first ride.

When Kerala launched the Priyadarshini scheme offering free KSRTC travel for women and transgender persons on Monday, the woman driving the inaugural bus embodied the spirit of the initiative itself.

V P Sheela, 54, from Kottappady near Kothamangalam, drove the first bus under the scheme carrying Chief Minister V D Satheesan, ministers and senior officials. She is the only woman driver in KSRTC to have secured the post through the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Sheela’s journey began with hardship. After losing her father at 17, she worked as a daily wage agricultural labourer to support her family. Encouraged by her brother Ayyappan, a taxi driver, she learned to drive an Ambassador car, a skill that would eventually transform her life.

After obtaining her licence, she spent 11 years as a driving instructor, later qualifying to train heavy vehicle drivers. In 2013, after several unsuccessful PSC attempts, she cleared the KSRTC driver recruitment tests and entered a profession largely dominated by men.

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Sheela says she was unaware she would be driving the inaugural Priyadarshini service until she arrived in Thiruvananthapuram for the event. She described the opportunity as both an honour and a recognition of women’s achievements.

Over the years, she has served at depots across Kerala, including Kothamangalam, Perumbavoor, Chalakudy, Kottarakkara and Thiruvananthapuram. She has also operated several Budget Tourism Cell services and currently drives the Perumbavoor–Muvattupuzha route.

Despite working in a challenging field, Sheela says passengers have generally been supportive and respectful. She welcomes the growing number of women joining KSRTC and KSRTC Swift and believes the Priyadarshini scheme is a positive step towards greater inclusion.

Looking back, she credits her family for standing by her through every challenge. Their support, she says, gave her the confidence to pursue her dreams and become a pioneer for women in Kerala’s transport sector.