Bhubaneswar: From personal struggle to public leadership, Santoshi Deo of Keonjhar has emerged as a powerful symbol of courage and women’s empowerment in Odisha. Her journey reflects how resilience, determination, and timely institutional support can transform adversity into inspiration.
Married at 16 in Haryana, Santoshi endured years of dowry harassment and domestic violence before being abandoned by her husband. Returning to Keonjhar as a single mother and school dropout, she chose not to surrender but to rebuild her life with dignity. Inspired by a woman auto-rickshaw driver in Chennai, she broke gender barriers in 2015 by becoming Keonjhar’s first woman auto-rickshaw driver. In 2021, she created history again as Odisha’s first woman Mo Bus driver in Bhubaneswar, motivating women across the State to pursue non-traditional livelihoods.
Her determination continued as she trained to operate heavy machinery, driving a 40-metric-tonne Volvo truck at the Guali site in Keonjhar—an occupation traditionally dominated by men. She also undertook extraordinary journeys, including driving her auto-rickshaw nearly 1,600 kilometres to New Delhi to seek justice in her personal legal battles, and later to Ayodhya for the Ram Mandir inauguration, earning admiration for her endurance.
Santoshi’s inspiring life was celebrated during National Road Safety Month in January 2026, where Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi hailed her as the “Daughter of Keonjhar” and a symbol of Odia pride and perseverance.
She is also a beneficiary of the AMA SuVahak scheme, a flagship initiative of the Odisha Commerce & Transport Department that empowers women entrepreneurs in the transport sector. The scheme provides interest-free loans of up to Rs 10 lakh, subsidies for electric vehicles, and institutional support to promote sustainable livelihoods. With this assistance, Santoshi now owns a four-wheeler and is building her career as a woman entrepreneur.
From a survivor of violence to a confident leader behind the wheel, Santoshi Deo’s journey embodies a new Odisha—where women are empowered by opportunity, supported by policy, and inspired to lead.
