Keonjhar woman finds success through state transport loan scheme
Perseverance combined with the right government support can change lives. This was proven recently when Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi hailed Santoshi Deo as the "Daughter of Keonjhar" during the National Road Safety Month celebrations. Santoshi, once a victim of domestic violence, has now become a proud vehicle owner and entrepreneur, thanks to the state's ambitious AMA SuVahak scheme.
Her journey was not easy. Married off at the tender age of 16 in Haryana, Santoshi endured years of dowry harassment and physical abuse. Eventually abandoned, she returned to her home in Keonjhar as a single mother with a daughter to raise. Instead of giving up, she decided to break into male-dominated fields to secure her future.
Drawing inspiration from a female driver she once saw in Chennai, Santoshi became Keonjhar’s first woman auto-rickshaw driver in 2015. Her grit took her further, and in 2021, she created history as Odisha’s first woman 'Mo Bus' driver. She didn't stop there; she eventually mastered heavy machinery, driving a massive 40-metric-tonne Volvo truck at the Guali mining site for Triveni Private Limited. Her determination was also visible when she drove her auto-rickshaw all the way to New Delhi to fight her legal battles and later to Ayodhya for the Ram Mandir inauguration.
However, the transition from being an employee to an employer is what truly defines her success today. Santoshi is a prime beneficiary of the AMA SuVahak initiative, a flagship program by the Commerce & Transport Department. This scheme is designed to empower women by providing interest-free loans of up to ₹10 lakh for purchasing commercial vehicles. It also offers subsidies for electric vehicles, making it easier for women to enter the transport business.
With the financial backing of AMA SuVahak, Santoshi has purchased her own four-wheeler and is now an independent business owner. Her evolution from a survivor seeking justice to a leader in the logistics sector stands as a testament to the changing face of Odisha, where policy and personal courage meet to create new history.
