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Mohanasundari is the President of the Veera Pengal Munnetra Sangam (VPMS). A former beautician and small business owner, she became an auto driver during the pandemic. Mohana has been relentlessly organising and fighting against patriarchal prejudice towards women drivers in the transport sector in Chennai for over six years. She has also gained recognition for her work by winning the Kamala Bhasin Award for Gender Equality in 2025 and the Devi Award 2026 by The Indian Express for innovation in her field.
Help Veera Pengal Munnetra Sangam (Brave Women’s Progressive Union) expand the participation of women in the transport sector in Tamil Nadu, India.
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Auto Queens follows Tamil Nadu’s first women-led auto-rickshaw union, Veera Pengal Munnetra Sangam (Brave Womens’ Association) through the friendship and lens of two women drivers - Mohana, its president and Leela Rani. Despite their differing approaches to daily injustices, their bond remains an unshakeable force. Together, they bear the torch for a growing network of women drivers who fight for equal opportunities in a heavily male-dominated field.
Background -
Chennai is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. Of its 80,000 autos, only 0.5% are driven by women.
VPMS arose out of the need for solidarity among women drivers and a formal structure to navigate the challenges of a system that has historically been designed to prevent women from accessing economic opportunities in the transport sector.
What began as a 6-member WhatsApp group to exchange information, tips, safety advice, and emotional support is now a registered co-operative of around 400 drivers.
Even though VPMS has expanded into a registered co-operative, women drivers still face prejudice and lack basic infrastructure in order to build sustainable livelihoods. This includes:
"I know we'll reach heights we haven't even dreamed of yet.
Life still brings its troubles, but when I stand with the group, working towards something we all share, that joy makes me forget everything else." - Mohanasundari
Impact Campaign Goals -
1. Shift long-held cultural beliefs and public perception about women drivers, thereby increasing their participation, breaking institutional barriers, and strengthening their leadership in the transport sector in Tamil Nadu.
This will be achieved through:
- Screenings of the film across various communities, institutions, universities and civic bodies in Tamil Nadu, India, and the world.
- Media Advocacy for behavioural and policy changes to help women drivers meet basic needs during the job and achieve sustainable livelihoods.
2. Enable VPMS to professionally train 300 women drivers by 2028.
With more visibility on women drivers in Chennai we shift the narrative around who belongs in public spaces and inspire the inclusion of more women in transportation across India.
Ride with us!
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