Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Dec 21: A woman of Kundapur origin happens to be the first woman from Karnataka to have secured driving licence in Saudi Arabia after the Gulf nation lifted ban on driving of vehicles placed on women. Dr Vanishree Santosh Shetty has passed the driving test and got her licence. Her husband, Santosh Shetty, has his house in Konjady.

Vanishree is from Albady near here. She lives in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, since the last 15 years along with husband and two sons. She is a dentist by profession. She got her driving licence on November 21 and became the first woman from Karnataka to get Saudi driving licence.

Vanishree, who has immense interest in driving, had got Indian driving licence in 2002. She yearned to get a driving licence in Saudi Arabia too as she need not be dependent on others if she can drive the vehicle herself. After she got married and shifted base to Saudi Arabia, she did not get a chance to drive there because of local restrictions.

Vanishree says that people in Saudi Arabia raise their eyebrows at women drivers as only a handful are now driving cars on the roads there. She says that Saudi women get preference in issuance of driving licence. Saramma Thomas from Pattanamthitta district, Kerala, was the first Indian woman to get driving licence in Saudi Arabia, Vanishree says.

It is true that many persons including Indians who work as drivers in Saudi Arabia face the risk of losing jobs because of the liberalized driving licence policy as Saudi citizens normally appoint drivers for their vehicles both in houses and offices. Moreover, commercial institutions give preference to men drivers. Therefore, professional drivers do not get affected that much, Vanishree feels.

Vanishree reveals that driving test at Saudi is very rigid and it poses challenge to Indian drivers. At the same time, women inspectors have been appointed to investigate accidents involving women drivers. These inspectors are appointed and trained by private insurance companies, she adds.

Vanishree Shetty is happy that she can save on time and expenses now as she had to depend on driver or husband till now to reach office or other destinations.