Bengaluru IT Professional Leaves Tech Career to Drive Rapido Auto for Family Care
A former IT professional in Bengaluru has left her corporate technology career spanning nearly a decade to drive a Rapido auto-rickshaw, following the death of her father and the need to care for her aging mother. The career switch came to public attention after digital content creator Tanvi Shetty featured the worker in a viral video shared across social media platforms, sparking widespread discussion regarding corporate work culture, career flexibility, and shifting economic priorities.
According to The Siasat Daily, for Bengaluru Rapido Auto Driver, The former IT worker spent nine years in Bengaluru's corporate technology sector before transitioning to commercial auto-rickshaw driving, generating around ₹60,000 monthly. According to The Siasat Daily, the transition highlighted systemic deficits in corporate caregiver policies, driving public discussion on the absence of eldercare leave frameworks in India's technology outsourcing industry.
The unidentified worker explained that managing mandatory night shifts in her prior technology role became untenable after her father passed away, leaving her mother without evening care at home. Seeking an occupation that offered direct proximity to her residence and greater schedule control, she opted out of the IT sector entirely and entered the city's commercial transport sector.
Family Hesitation and Social Expectations
The transition was met with initial resistance from family members who questioned the unconventional move from a white-collar desk position to driving a passenger auto-rickshaw. Relatives initially opposed the choice given the traditional social prestige attached to corporate technology employment in India's tech capital.
Despite family concerns and conventional social expectations, the worker prioritized personal autonomy and domestic stability over corporate standing. Public commentary surrounding her viral interview highlighted widespread surprise from passengers who noted her fluent English communication skills and professional background, challenging traditional assumptions about individuals operating public transport vehicles.
Earnings and Economic Realities
Beyond schedule flexibility, the driver revealed that her daily earnings from operating the vehicle frequently exceed her former corporate salary. Her testimony underscored broader economic shifts within urban gig employment, where flexible vehicle-hailing platforms offer competitive daily returns compared to entry and mid-level technology positions burdened by rigid shift structures.
Official industry data indicates that women auto drivers in Indian urban centers typically earn between 1,000 rupees during peak commuting windows and up to 2,000 rupees when operating throughout extended daily shifts. Platforms such as Rapido operate on flexible scheduling frameworks that require basic documentation, including a valid driving licence, vehicle registration certificate, and identity proof, while extending accident and medical insurance coverage up to 500,000 rupees for drivers and their families.
Broader Urban Trends Across Bengaluru
The viral trajectory of the career switch reflects a growing demographic shift on Bengaluru streets, where an increasing number of women are entering commercial auto driving to secure work-life balance. Official municipal data indicates thousands of registered women auto drivers operate across the city, with many others completing commercial vehicle training programs.
According to She Inspire Magazine, for Women in Urban Gig Mobility, Female participation in urban commercial auto-rickshaw driving in Bengaluru has grown significantly following municipal initiatives and app-based platform onboarding programs.
Many female operators leverage flexible aggregator models to manage peak transport hours while returning home during afternoon intervals to manage domestic responsibilities. As platform-based mobility continues to expand across major metropolitan corridors, individual choices driven by personal care responsibilities and schedule autonomy are increasingly redefining urban employment patterns.